Tales of the Element Gang, Book 1: Heroes of Equestria

Chapters

Prelude: A Talk with Rarity
Prologue
Chapter 1: Seeing Clearly
Chapter 2: Attack of the Dark Gang

Prelude: A Talk with Rarity

“So…” That was the first word that Rarity said to me after she had invited me into the Carousel Boutique and shut the door.

I was unsure how exactly to respond to this. “So…”

“So…” she repeated. Her expression was blank and difficult to read (Though that might be because of my still terrible eyes), standing before me in the middle of the shop with the air of a judge about to pass sentence.

“So… what?”

“Don’t give me that you! You know exactly what.” she breathed, barely containing herself. “You know exactly why it is I have asked you here, for I have something that I have been meaning to say to you for a very long time.”

“Um… do you?” I racked my brain desperately. Had I done something wrong? Had I upset the debutante in some way?

“Yes, I do. Something very important, something of so great and surmounting significance that I daresay that you will remember it until your dying day, sir!” Her voice was rising slightly and it was making me even more worried.

“Is… that so?” I backed off a little, but Rarity only stepped closer and held out her hoof.

“Stay right there!” I stood stock-still, like she was a Gorgon who had just petrified me. “You will stay right there so you can listen to what I have to say and don't you even think about running off.”

“If you, uh… insist.” I stayed rooted to the spot, barely even daring to blink.

“I just cannot believe I didn’t say this to you before.” she continued, her voice still rising an octave or two. “In fact, I am shocked—horrified even—that I did not say this before or, even worse, that you did not come to me directly and speak about it.”

“Uh… sorry?” I said, trying my best to smile.

“Wipe that smirk off your face!” she commanded and I instantly obeyed. “Oh, don’t think sorry will help you now, because I am going to tell you, right this instant, what I should have told you last night when all of this started!”

That left me even more confused. A lot of things had happened the previous night and I couldn’t think of a single one that might be causing Rarity to act like this towards me. There was of course one thing that had happened and that had only happened because of her, but how could it be possible I had done something wrong concerning that already? We had only just begun! Unless I had…

“And, uh… what might that be?” I dared to ask.

“I’m going to tell you!” she cried, her voice rising now to screeching levels and still glaring at me. “And what that is… is…” All of a sudden, she broke out into a grin and her eyes lit up like the sun. “That you are going to be the happiest and most content stallion that has ever walked Equestria!”

“I… um… what?”

“After all this time, all the shy glances, the doubts, the denials, the looks, the smiles, the dancing, and lest we not forget the steadily rising betting pool going on through all of that, it’s finally happened!” She was beaming at me now and, considering how she had been before, I was rather unnerved by this sudden change. “You and Twilight are finally a… a…”

“Couple?” I supplied, as she clearly had trouble getting the word out.

“Yes, exactly! Oh, I am so happy for you both, I don’t think I could possibly gauge how ecstatic I am!” She let out a small squee of barely suppressed excitement and threw her legs around me in a hug. “You two are going to be the eye of all of Ponyville, I just know it!”

“Um… thank you.” I unsurely placed my arms around her, the thought crossing my mind that perhaps Pinkie wasn’t the only strange member of our group.

“I mean, it’s just so wonderful.” She pulled back and a dreamy look came over her face. “Two young ponies, who have watched each other from afar, never having known or experienced the mysterious and wonderful feeling that is love and perhaps even scared to. Now, both are discovering its wonders together at long last.” She let out a long sigh and smiled softly. “Oh, it makes my heart flutter just thinking about it.”

I was still feeling a little unsure as to how to react to all of this. Then again, Rarity could sometimes be a little overdramatic and perhaps this had just been her way of letting me know how happy she was for me. She had, of course, been helping me along every step of the way and this must have been like some sort of personal project for her. Now that she had achieved her goal, I supposed she had earned the right to act how she wanted.

She seemed to notice my rather bemused expression and frowned a little, but kept her smile. “Dusk, what on earth are you looking at me like that for? I don’t have a pimple, do I? Oh, by Celestia, tell me it’s not a pimple!”

Just as I thought. That whole thing before had just been some kind of weird act she put on or it had just been her personal reaction to what had happened. Like I had said that night, the girls could still surprise me, even when I thought I knew them best. So, in the end, I returned her smile and relaxed, comforted in the knowledge she wasn’t really angry at me.

“No, it’s not a pimple. You look as lovely as you always do.” I complimented, though not without a blush and a mumble.

“Oh, aren’t you the sweetest thing?” she tittered. “Better not let Twilight catch you saying things like that to other mares or she’ll kick your tail.”

“Duly noted.” I chuckled. “Thank you again, Rarity, for all of your help in this. Sorry I couldn’t tell you that on the night, cuz.”

“Oh, it’s fine, dear, I know you had more pressing matters to attend to.” She giggled as I blushed. “Besides, we can’t let your special somepony know you had too much help, can we?”

“Um… why not?”

“Why, it’s really quite obvious. Mares like a stallion who’s independent and confident and I should think Twilight is no different.”

“Ah… I see.” That got me a little worried, for I didn’t see myself as independent, I preferred being told what to do or confident, for obvious reasons.

“But,” she added, seeing the look on my face, “that will come with time and practice and I think you two will be just fine the way you are at the minute. Just remember though, if you ever have any trouble, come see me and I’ll see if I can’t put on the right track.”

“You’d… you’d do that?” I felt relieved, for I had still been a little nervous about the whole idea.

“Of course. I do have some experience in this field you know. Some less pleasant than others…” She let a dark look pass over her and I knew she was probably still thinking about her experience with Blueblood.

“Right… thanks, Rare.” I said, feeling a little better.

“Oh, no trouble at all, darling. Now, come along. We must celebrate and I have just the thing for this sort of occasion.” She ushered me into her kitchen, just as another thought crossed my mind.

“Wait… betting pool?”

“Oh, Pinkie’s idea, darling. Nothing to concern yourself with.”

“But…”

“Now, now, enough of that. We have an occasion to celebrate.” She gave me a disarming smile and went to busy herself with the cupboards, while I stood waiting by the table at the window.

I still sighed with happiness when I recalled the previous night, a memory so strong that it even suppressed some less pleasant recollections that lurked in my mind. I couldn’t remember a time I had felt more content, more satisfied than the time I had spent with Twilight last night, one arm around her and holding her close, while her head was tucked under my chin and her sweet voice played in my ear reciting facts about the stars above, radiating more warmth than the sun on a summer’s day.

I had never actually thought I and Twilight would even share a moment like that, let alone caught in each other’s embrace. Yet we had done it and we had both enjoyed the special time we had spent together under the stars of Canterlot. It all seemed quite impossible enough before all that had happened to us both and after all I had done… I wasn’t sure if I would even be able to pull off my goal. But I’d done it. We’d done it.

Then, of course, there had been everypony’s reactions afterward. Pinkie had been ecstatic, practically over the moon about it. Fluttershy offered her quiet, yet warm congratulations to us but had mainly kept quiet. Rainbow had rolled her eyes and she and Shield warned us to keep the “mushy stuff” to a minimum when they were around. Rarity had beamed at me, but had shushed me from behind the rest of them. Leon didn’t really think it was great as usual. When Leon said if it was good for the economy, Rarity went over to him with an annoyed look and, like when we defeated Discord, punched him in the leg. Applejack and Dog, however, had stepped forward with barely concealed smirks.

“Now, Twi, I think this is all real grand and all, but I got just one thing to say to you ʹbout all this.” Applejack had said.

“And what’s that?” Twilight had asked, though from the tone of her voice she sounded like she knew what was coming.

“Now, I don’t want ya to think that I’m just bein’ a smart alec here, mainly ʹcause we already got two of ya for that,” she explained, clearly milking the moment, “but I feel there are times that, even somepony like me, has to say somethin’ like this.”

“And that is?”

Applejack had stepped up close, cleared her throat, and, with a satisfactory smirk, said “I told ya so.”

“I knew it.” Twilight had laughed at this. “You certainly did tell me so and, for once, I’m glad I was wrong.”

I hadn’t known what they were talking about and I hadn’t asked either for Twilight had nuzzled into my neck after she’d said this and the warm feeling that buzzed into my brain made me oblivious to everything else.

I was still smiling when I pulled out Rarity’s cushion for her and accepted the wine glass that she had poured out for me. What I tasted, however, wasn’t wine. It was rather like apple juice, only with more fizz and with much more of a kick. It made my tongue tingle, my stomach buzz, and I coughed a little from the aftertaste. It was pleasant though and I liked it, wiping some of the froth from my upper lip.

“What is that?” I asked her.

“Some of the Apple Family’s homemade apple cider, freshly squeezed and freshly made every year.” she announced proudly, taking a sip herself. “They make it once a year, but they never seem to have enough of it. It’s quite popular with the town.”

“I can see why.” I remarked, taking another gulp.

“Yes, but luckily, I managed to save some and I thought now seemed like a good time to open a bottle.” She raised her glass daintily. “I propose a toast, to a happy and long relationship for the two of you.”

“I hope so.” I moved my glass to chink against hers, but missed due to my eyes and ended up spilling some of my cider on the floor. I spilled a little more when Rarity shrieked like a banshee from the mess. “Oh, my gosh! I’m so sorry!”

“It’s… it’s quite all right, Dusk.” she said quietly, clearly doing her best to suppress her neat-clean attitude. “Just a small accident, that’s all… I hope that doesn’t stain.”

“I really am sorry.” I sighed and rubbed my eyes, a habit I’d started to develop. “My eyesight still hasn’t cleared up.”

“Yes, I noticed.” Rarity cleared her throat and her pleasant voice returned. “Haven’t you considered taking Zecora’s advice and getting some glasses?”

“Um… well… I don’t know…” I diverted my gaze. “Why, um… why would I need glasses?”

“I’d say the answer to that is fairly obvious.” She gestured once more to her stained floor, which Opalescence was coming to investigate. “I’m sure price isn’t an object and any optician would tell you that you need a pair of glasses desperately. Even we think so.”

“Um… well…” I stammered and fell silent. I didn’t want to say what was on my mind.

“Dusk, what’s wrong?” she asked, picking up on it.

“It’s… it’s nothing, it’s stupid.”

“I shall be the judge of that. What’s on your mind, dear? Why are you so tentative about getting glasses?”

I knew she wasn’t going to let this go. “You see…” I sighed and looked at her as best I could. “I don’t want glasses… because I think they’d… well they’d…”

“Go on.” she prompted gently.

“They’d make me look like… a geek…” I muttered, Rainbow’s words echoing in my head.

A moment of silence passed between them. Rarity blinked, stared at me for a bit and giggled a little, making my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

“You see? Stupid.” I repeated.

“Oh, no. I’m sorry, dear.” she said quickly. “It’s just that you’ve really got to stop listening to Rainbow Dash.”

“She is right though.” I pointed out. “I’m already quite geeky as it is. Glasses would just be sealing the deal, so to speak. Kind of like an Axel.”

“Excuse me, a what?” It was then that I mentally slapped myself for what I just said to her.

“Uh…” I was now starting to get nervous.

“Dusk, is something the matter?”

With a sigh, I saw that I had no choice but to tell her. “Rare, have you ever heard of the Dragon-verse?”

“I can’t say that I have. What is it?”

“Well… you heard of the parallel universe theory, like the one used in science fiction?”

“Yes. You once told me about it.”

“Well, it’s like that. Though a bit… bigger than you think.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… amongst our own multiverse, there are others like it that surround it. Separate cosmos that occupy their own extradimensional space. Think of it as like having books in a library, groups of them placed among separate shelves.”

“Oh.” She then began to take it all in. “So I am to guess that, in each dimension of these other… cosmos, there are ponies like you?”

“Well… yes.” That was only half true. There were others like me, but the ones I know weren’t ponies. I decided to leave that detail out as it would be too much of a shock for her. “Though I’m not sure how things in our own multiverse work, I do know about the others. The majority of them have Fire Dragons like me, but they go by the name ‘Axel’ instead of ‘Dusk’.”

“And do these Axels have glasses as well?”

“Yep. All of them. Though they look cool with them, I’m afraid it might not be the same case with me. Might end up more geeky than cool.”

“Dusk, darling, your intelligence is one of the things that we like—that I like—as your friends.” she said comfortingly. “Do you honestly think that any of us, apart from Rainbow and Shield, would care even an inkling what you would look like if you took to wearing glasses?”

“No?”

“Of course not!” she said with utter assurance. “If anything, glasses would only serve to emphasize your intelligence, make you look more clever. Not that you need to, of course, but I believe the right glasses would suit you as well as your delightful chapeau does.”

“You… you think so?”

“Of course, take it from somepony who also wears them.” She levitated a pair of oval-shaped red glasses onto her face. “See, fabulous, aren’t they? I only use them when I’m working, but that doesn’t mean I can’t look smashing in them.”

“Well, it does work for you,” I complimented her shyly. “I suppose, if I need to, it wouldn’t be so bad in that case. Thanks for putting me at ease, Rare.”

“Delighted to help as always.” she assured, removing her glasses and beaming. “When it comes to appearance, rest assured I always know what I'm talking about.”

“You do… and you’re still so helpful to me, even after…” I trailed off as the memories returned again.

They were usually suppressed, kept locked away inside of my mind, but sometimes they came crawling back like parasprites. The laughter echoed in my head again, echoing like a cry in a cave of lost souls. Screams from the very mare that stood before me while she was consumed by a boulder, begging for me to stop destroying her precious stone, as I demanded that she fall on her knees and plead for me to stop. The pain, the anguish, the torment…it had all been my fault, I was the one who had let him out…

“Dusk? Dusk, are you feeling well?” Rarity’s voice snapped me out of my episode. She was gazing at me with concern. “You look as if you’re about to pass out.”

Though I did feel assured, I also felt even worse from the tone she used. I didn’t feel I deserved such compassion after all I’d done. But I also was terrified of losing her, all of them, and being on my own again. So, I suppressed that feeling, suppressed the memory, and did my best to return a smile.

“I’m fine, I’m just… still coping with some bad memories.” I said quietly.

“Oh, I understand entirely. When I think about what happened whilst under his influence…” She shuddered and flushed red, but quickly covered this up. “Still, what’s past has past and now we must move on.”

“Yeah… I know…” I tried to keep the smile and looked out of the window, hoping she wouldn’t see the darkness moving behind my eyes.

“Oh, dear! Look at Opal!” Rarity said. I turned and actually smiled genuinely when I saw the cat was stumbling around in a drunken manner, her fur soaked in cider and banging her head against the wall. “Oh, you silly cat!”

“Indeed.” I chuckled again, well aware of the more sinister sound that echoed along with it…

Author's Note

Hey, everypony! Just posting this up to show you that I'm not dead and have been trying my best to get things done, especially with the covers for my books. Speaking of which, it seems I hit a bit of a creative block with them and will accept some help if anyone likes to offer. Also, I would really appreciate some questions for Rise of the Element Gang since I would love to see the questions you all got for it. Also I found a new house and already getting this packed up for it, so I'm gonna be pretty busy with deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. Anyway, liked that little dating advice from Rarity and that little reveal about the Dragon-verse? Trust me, you're going to be hearing a whole lot more about the Dragon-verse in this series, especially with Dusk. Along with this prelude, there will also be a new log entry from Dusk and the first chapter of the story, Though that will be all for a while, I promise I will put in some more once things are all settled and done. Hope you all enjoy what I got! :pinkiehappy:

Prologue

Dusk’s log

As I go on with my second year of living in Ponyville, I can’t help but look back at the events that would change my life, as well the life of my friends, forever. Who would’ve thought that such a good day could go so wrong in such short time? Though I guess that’s how it works in life, especially when you’re dealing with someone who can do something like that. A while ago, Equestria was being threatened by Discord, the Lord of Chaos, who had broken free of his stone imprisonment to reign chaos over the land. In light of this, me and my friends had to split up with the girls heading to Canterlot under the orders of Princess Celestia to once again use the Elements of Harmony and defeat Discord and me and the guys staying behind to protect Ponyville from Discord. It wasn’t long until I received a message from Princess Luna, a task that to find something that she believed could help us defeat Discord. With this, Shield, Dog, Leon, and I went to the Castle of the Two Pony Sisters, the original castle of Princess Luna and Princess Celestia as well as the very place where the prophecy of my Fire Dragon predecessor on the return of Nightmare Moon came true.

As we were searching, the girls had come to deal with their own problem: from arriving in Canterlot, they found out that Discord had stolen the Elements and hid them somewhere. With only given a riddle as their only clue, they all tried to find the Elements. Both searches came to bare their consequences. With searching the castle’s labyrinth, the girls were separated and Discord had managed to use his powers to alter them into becoming opposite to their own nature: Applejack becoming a liar, Rarity turned delusional with greed, Pinkie Pie made cyanic, Fluttershy transformed into a jerk, and Rainbow Dash losing her sense of loyalty. To make matters worse, I had gotten separated from my group as well and was nearly corrupted by Discord. Luckily, I was able to resist and had managed to break from him. But the draconequus still had one more trick up his sleeve: he managed to infect me with Black Blood, a fluid of which driven ponies into absolute madness.

Before succumbing to the madness, I soon got some help from Luna’s Darkrai and the Legendary Pokémon Dialga. The Legendary sent me back in time to the moment the girls defeated Nightmare Moon and where I discovered I had played a part in their victory by using my magic to help the girls find each other. It was there that I had found what Luna sent me to find and bared witness to the girls using the Elements of Harmony for the first time. After accomplishing both tasks from the princess and the Legendary, I returned to the present and was reunited with the guys. Giving them what Twilight and the others needed, I then took off to find a way to rid myself of the Black Blood. Failing to find such a cure, I ventured outside of Ponyville to where I could try and stop my corruption from being completed.

I did try hard to fight the madness, but lost in the end and transformed into a cruel and terrible Kishin that called himself Diablo Nightfall the Blackhole of Doom, who’s cruelty, fury, and hatred knew no bounds. Though, with the help of Princess Luna and Dragonis Maximus, I was able to fight back against my dark side and free myself from Black Blood Madness. Now Dusk Noir once again, I reunited with the guys and we went off to help bring the girls back together. Doing such a task, I came to discover powers I didn’t know I had within my own magic, powers of which I then used to restore Twilight and the others back to their true selves. Though we did run into some trouble, we received some help from the friends we made in the past, friends such as Spike, Zecora, Little Strongheart, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Gold Star, even my royal cousin Hearth Forest. It was thanks to our friends that we were able to fight back against Discord’s forces and were able to confront the draconequus.

But, just when it seemed it was over, we were shocked to find the Elements of Harmony fail to bring down Discord. We all tried to fight him, but Discord was just too strong. Just when all hope seemed lost, I soon realized what Luna had meant and knew what we were missing. From that very moment, I embraced my destiny and become who I was meant to be: the Wielder of the seventh Element of Harmony, the Element of Unity! Together, both elementals and wielders, my friends and I unleashed the true power of the Elements and turned Discord back to stone. Harmony defeating chaos and Equestria was saved once again. Though I was going to miss my necklace and wasn’t too crazy about wearing a crown instead of my trebly, I had managed to gain some things in the process.

From our victory, my cutie mark had come to change as I embrace my true talent in my color magic. Along with it, Luna had decided to take me under her wing and teach me to master my color talent as her student. From the celebration in Canterlot, Dragonis told the Element Gang secret and my fellow elementals and I revealed ourselves as the very heroes who helped bring down Discord, the true identities of the land’s protectors revealed to all of Equestria. Though the biggest surprise yet was one of which I had always wished for. The night of that celebration, I confessed my true feelings to Twilight, how I cared about as more than a friend. From that moment, Twilight told me she had felt the same and, despite her thoughts on romance, she was willing to give it a chance with me. As such, our love blossomed and the two of us took our first step in our relationship beyond friendship.

Even though things have changed for us since the secret got out and now everypony knows the true about the Element Gang, even with the newfound fame and popularity, there are still things that stayed the same. Even with our secret identities revealed to everypony, my teammates and I continue our lives as usual: the air elemental and wielder of the Element of Generosity Raritina Turbor, better known as Rarity, continues her work at the Boutique and strides to become a great fashionista as well show elegance like her alter ego Torna; our water elemental Leon Aquilous still helps with Fluttershy at the cottage and doesn’t let the mare fan base he gained as Posidacus get in the way of that; Shield Steedor the earth elemental still practices tricks with Rainbow Dash, the fame of Apolloid now his own; wielder of the Element of Laughter Pinkimina Diane Pie, or Pinkie Pie for short, keeps up as the best party planner out there and even uses her abilities as the lightning elemental ShockBlade to work in some new trick; Dog Fries, the honest ice elemental, working at the Apple Farm and even putting Icedra’s ninja agility to good use; and me, the wielder of the Element of Unity Dusk Noir, now start my life being the second assistant and boyfriend of Twilight Sparkle while continuing my duty as El Dragon and leader of the Element Gang.

If anything, things have gotten pretty good since then. In fact, since our secret has been revealed, there had been a lot less crime out in about. Despite a few rescue missions here and there, the team and I have been able to take it easy. Of course, we still train to make sure we’re ready for anything as always. But just like any other day as the Element Gang, we always stay diligent. You never know, something new can be waiting just outside the corner…

Author's Note

Well, there's Dusk's latest log entry, showing everything up to now. With a little look back on what had happened and how much has changed, it can be easy to say that life in Equestria will be a little different for the Element Gang as they continue their hero duties as well as their lives. Speaking of a little different, let's just see how things are different for Dusk now, especially for how what has happened to him affects how he does things.

Chapter 1: Seeing Clearly

Once my break (which I had spent at the Boutique) was over, I swiftly returned to my post at the library. Unlike other times, I had my Fire Dragon tail out and the ponies passing me by and greeting me like usual. I have to say, having the Element Gang secret out has made things a lot easier. Now I didn’t have the discomfort from hiding my tail’s true form. I made sure, however, not to move too quickly and take extra care as to where I was putting my hooves and claws while walking through Ponyville. Since my eyesight had lost its former state, I had been tripping and stumbling quite a bit, even falling headlong into a bush on my way to work this morning and that was just from today. Even when I was thinking hard about each step, it was still easy to miss a pebble I hadn’t seen or perhaps a cobble that caught me unawares.

It’s also a reason why I was glad for the recent popularity my fellow elementals and I got from everyone in Equestria knowing who we were had gotten less immense with everypony getting used to having heroes without masks amongst them. After the Element Gang secret was revealed, me and the team practically got swarmed by fans. While Shield didn’t mind the attention he got from it, it was still causing a lot of problems for our daily lives. Lasting a few weeks, we had to deal with news hounds for daily newspapers. Just the next day after we came back to Ponyville, I ended up being followed by a swarm of journalists to work. Ever since then, Ponyville had gotten a newspaper route, which allowed me to see how the others were dealing with the new popularity. Rarity seemed to handle it very well as she received interviews to talk about her, Leon practically had to fight off journalists and photographers just so he and Fluttershy could get around, Dog and the Apple Family could barely work from being interviewed, and Pinkie… well, let’s just say she made interviews with her a little difficult. With them, I tried to avoid all the questions that involved my relationship status with Twilight because I did not want that to go public with all of Equestria.

While there would be ponies that would be happy for the two of us (mostly family and friends), I knew there would be a few ponies that would be upset by this, specifically the female variety. If mares found out that El Dragon wasn’t single anymore, they might become jealous and that could lead to some serious problems, especially with Twilight. That became obvious with problems coming with new visitors that would come and go from Ponyville. With mares that would flirt with me with the thought that I was single are only met with disappoint from me telling them I was off the market and fear from meeting with my girlfriend herself. When it comes to mares who try to romantically flirt with me, Twilight can present herself in a calm yet threatening presence. The same problems happened with my fellow stallions when it came to the female variety of their fan bases. When it came to them hanging out with the respective mares they were living with, one can feel the aura of jealous coming from the female fans of each male elemental. I mean, I’m not kidding when I say that Fluttershy got some threatening glares from visiting Posidacus fanmares.

The fans didn’t really make it easy for any of us, especially when it came to work. I practically had a swarm of fans following me around for weeks whenever I went to work. And that’s actually pretty hard to get away from and reach your intended destination when you’re nearsighted. And I swear that the amount of fans I have had increased since it was discovered I was an Element of Harmony. While I could manage to see with the use of my Fire Dragon eyes, they didn’t really do me any favors in a social stand point. Green dragon eyes aren’t exactly something that give an approachable presence. Honestly, I was just glad the popularity finally died down and I could finally walk out of my house without any troubles. I didn’t want to be treated as special due to my elemental status. When I would walk out without needing to hide my tail, I just want to be treated like any other pony. I’m just fine with the ponies of Ponyville treating and greeting me like they did before, much like they would do now. Though, even with all the kind smiles and friendly greetings, I do sometimes feel off remembering what had happened during Discord’s attack, especially the time when… he was around.

I felt a calm comfort wash over me once I could make out the library. Even with my blurry vision, it was unmistakable. Before I entered, I made sure that I still looked presentable by checking myself in a nearby window. Once I had straightened my hat and furiously placed down a bit of fur that had been sticking up, I drew in a deep breath and entered the haven of knowledge and books, my heart fluttering with anticipation.

Whereas before I had already felt comfortable in the library, I now felt as if I could be safe from anything in here. Even if a meteor fell down from the sky and hit the town directly, I was sure that the ancient tree would be the only protection I needed because I felt so safe, so at peace here. I had those feelings ever since I’d discovered friendship’s magic, but now they had tripled since last night I’d noticed, all because of what had changed between me and the studious mare I worked with.

I still had trouble believing that Twilight and I were actually in a romantic relationship. A year ago, just becoming her friend had seemed like some impossible goal that I only had the slimmest of chances achieving. Before coming to Ponyville, I even thought of romance between her and I would only be something Shield and the guys would use to tease me. This felt like some wonderful dream that I expected to awaken from at any moment and return to reality. But it was real, as I was reminded when she’d kissed my cheek when I’d walked into the library this morning and she brushed her side against mine, making her giggle from how much I blushed and how much my tail wagged in joy.

Even though I still felt the guilt from what I had put her through of which she had already forgiven me for, I still enjoyed every second of this fact.

There was no sign of her when I entered, but I could make out the small purple and green blob that I knew to be my fellow assistant, clearing up a pile of books that had been scattered onto the floor. Spike usually looked away or coughed loudly whenever I and Twilight showed any sign of affection (making us both blush and chuckle awkwardly), but we supposed he’d have to get used it, just as we would. I accidently tripped over one of the books because I didn’t see it while I made my way over, crashing to the floor as the baby dragon filled my vision.

“Have a nice trip, buddy?” he asked in a light tone.

“Really, Spike? I thought you’d be above puns.” I remarked, getting back up on my hooves and claws.

“Hey, at least I’m not the one hitting the books.”

“Spike, come on.”

“I mean, you were on the floor laughing from the look of it.”

“Please tell me there’s no more.”

“Looking like you were head over heels there.”

“Oh, Celestia! Let it end!”

“Eh, what can I say? I’m a comic genius.” he shrugged as we both laughed. “Well, stop wasting time with your jokes, we gotta get this cleaned up.”

“My jokes? What are you… oh, never mind.” I just moved to help Spike with the books, having to squint at the spines to see what they were.

Anypony else would see such a task as boring and tedious, but not me. I just hummed a merry tune while I worked, keeping my mind occupied away from… other thoughts, now and again sharing a quip with Spike. As mischievous and cocky he could be at times, I still liked working with the baby dragon, just as I always did. I was just settling into the task I had been assigned, even then I was still making the odd mistake with the sorting that was pointed out by either Spike or Owlowiscious when I received a pleasant surprise.

“Excuse me, Number One Pony Assistant.” Just hearing her voice was enough to set my heart pounding, turning to behold her. “Back on time and back to work as always, I see.”

“Well… it’s what I do.” I replied humbly. This was one of those times I cursed being blinded, not being able to see Twilight clearly. Even then, her presence close to me was still… intoxicating.

“Isn’t it just?” I blushed from the praise and even more so when Twilight bestowed a kiss on my cheek. “That’s for always being so reliable.”

“Wow… still getting used to that.” I admitted.

“Me too.” I could make out a blush on her cheeks now. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“Not at all, that is if you don’t.”

“Of course not. It’s just that we’re still… you know…”

“I know.” I summed up my courage and did my best to sound appreciative. “That doesn’t mean I don’t like getting a kiss from my girlfriend.” Just saying that still made me tingle with pleasure.

“Good, because I like giving them to my boyfriend.” she replied, stepping closer to me.

“Glad that we agree on that then, Ms. Sparkle.”

“You know, I always like it when you call me that.”

“Well… that’s why I call you it, Ms. Sparkle.”

“Oh, now you’re just teasing me.” she giggled.

“You know, I’m standing right here.” Spike cut in, snapping us out of our zone. “Geez, I can’t stand office romances…”

“Heh… sorry, Spike…” I returned once more to my embarrassed state and Twilight diverted her gaze shyly. “So… back to work?”

“Yeah… actually, wait! There’s something I want to show you!” She grabbed my hand and pulled me over to another of the sections.

I felt another jolt when her hoof made contact with my claw and allowed myself to be pulled along. While it was true the two of us were still new to the concept of a romantic relationship and as such were still getting used to some public displays of affection, or even when it was just in private, but there was no denying we were both enjoying our newfound relationship. I knew that I certainly was, enjoying Twilight’s company more than ever and feeling even emptier when we parted.

Twilight too, despite her previous inhibitions regarding the idea of her engaging in romance, seemed to be happy being together with me too. Just today, her face had lit up when she saw me in a way that it never had before. Those shy glances we’d shared now turned into full blown, almost sensuous stares across the room. Sure, she always made sure she carried on with her studies and research, but she always found the time to throw me a look and remind me of just how lucky I really was.

I dwelled on those feelings happily before returning to reality and Twilight, who was now levitating a series of heavy-looking volumes down from one of the shelves and passing them to me eagerly, clearly excited about this. That meant that she could have only brought me over here for one possible reason and again I felt privileged from how much she wanted to help me in this particular venture.

“So, I was thinking last night about some books you might want to have a look at for your sessions with Luna.” she explained excitedly. “Finally, I settled on a few good ones and decided which to give you for a bit of light reading.” About ten heavy books slammed on the floor next to me.

“That’s light?” I heard Spike remark behind me. I had to agree. The pile was almost the same size as I was.

“Anyway,” Twilight continued, ignoring him, “so you’ll obviously want to look at a few magical tomes, works from Starswirl the Bearded, Marelin the Magnificent, that sort of thing, because I have no doubt she’ll be teaching you some advanced levels of magic. I don’t know what potential your magic has, but I’m sure there’ll be something in these. These cover everything from low-level enchantment to high-level conjuring, so you should be set here.”

“Good to know.” I said, eyeing the pile unsurely and realizing something. “Thanks for this, but I…”

“Oh, you’re welcome, but those are just the magical volumes.” She beamed and levitated down a few more. “Now, I know that science is your strong suit, but I still think it would be good to brush up on it a bit because science and magic can overlap quite a bit. So I also managed to find you some works from a few noteworthy ponies, like Professor Proton, Doctor Beaker, Doctor Test Tube…” She opened one of them and grimaced a little. “Actually, perhaps not that one. Most of his work is rather controversial. I’m shocked some of these were even published.”

“Right. But it’s just that I…”

“Hold on, hold on, just one last thing. I know you’re going to like this.” Adding to the steadily growing pile, she pulled down even more. “As you know, magic has left a pretty big impact on history and I know you’re pretty much covered where that's concerned, but I still think you should have another good look at some of this stuff. I got you some texts relating to the early days of the Unification, the Reign of Chaos, the Golden Age of Magic, some accounts of noteworthy magical researchers. In short, just about everything you’ll ever need for studying significant magical events and discoveries throughout Equestria’s history.”

“Yeah, all you need now is a book about kitchen sinks.” Spike remarked again.

“Make jokes all you like, Spike, but we’ll see who’s laughing when Dusk is fully prepared and ready for whatever Princess Luna might have in store for him.”

“Yeah, you’ll sure put me in my place. Why don’t you just give him the whole library while you’re at it? You pretty much did.” he added.

“Oh, don’t mind him, Dusk. You and I both know you’ll need to be as ready as you can be and, with my help, I’m sure you will be.” she said proudly.

“Um… sure…” I watched warily a pile that looked like it was going to fall.

“I knew you’d see things my way! So, what did you want to say?” she asked, her bright smile still on her face.

“Oh, right, yes… well, you see…” I didn’t want her to feel like she had wasted her time after doing all of this for me, but it still needed to be said. “I, uh… I’m still having trouble with, um… reading.”

“What?” Her smile faltered. “You mean your eyes still haven’t recovered?”

“No…”

“Oh.” Now her face fell, as did the piles of books, perfectly on cue and scattering all over the floor.

“Great, because I didn’t have enough to clean up.” Spike complained, slamming a book into its place.

“I’m sorry, Dusk,” she said, once again ignoring Spike. “I… I didn’t know that you were still… having trouble seeing.”

“How could you not know?” Spike cried. “He took three tries to get his bag and hat on the hook, he hit his head off the door frame—twice—sorted a book on ABCs into Classic Literature, and he stood on my tail—On, my tail!—and it hurt!”

“Thank you, Spike,” I said, finally responding to the dragon. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything, but… I didn’t want to worry you.”

“Dusk, if anything, I’m sorry for not noticing.” She sighed. “And, to think, I got you all excited about studying when you can barely read.”

“Yeah…” I backed away from the toppled books a little. “It made me think… do you think I should get glasses?”

Twilight perked up once again. “Of course I would, like I mentioned yesterday. I’d say that it’s a definite. It might not be permanent damage, but it looks like it’s not going away any day soon, so it’s only sensible that you get yourself some glasses until your eyes get better.”

“I suppose that makes sense.” I shrugged, glad she wasn’t commenting on the possibility of what I might look like with them. “Though I doubt that my eyes will get any better.”

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“I mean, I’m afraid that I might be permanently near-sighted. I think my magic may have altered my eyes a bit.” I admitted. “So… I think it would make sense to get some glasses if that’s the case.”

“Of course. In fact—now you mention it—let’s go and get you some, get it over with.” She looked around to Spike. “You don’t mind if we head out for a bit, do you, Spike?”

“No… hey, wait a min…”

“Great! Come on, let’s go.” She pulled me along to the door quickly, letting me stop to get my hat.

Just before he left, I could make out my fellow assistant glaring after us amidst a multitude of books on the floor. Feeling a little guilty leaving him like this, but also eager to spend some time alone with Twilight without him interrupting, I gave him a sheepish smile and followed my marefriend out of the door.

“Yes, Mr. Noir. It’s definite that you need some lenses for the state your eyes are in.” the optician said from behind the desk after I had finished my tests. “Quite frankly, I’m surprised you didn’t come here earlier than this.”

“I know I should have.” I admitted, taking my prescription for glasses. “It’s just… I thought that…”

Though I trailed off, the stallion seemed to read my mind. “Mr. Noir, I assure you, having to wear glasses is nothing to be ashamed of.” He adjusted a pair of his own on the end of his nose. “If ponies do mock for it, just don’t pay them any mind. Besides, we have a wide range of choices for glasses that would suit you.”

Feeling a little more spirited than before, I returned the opticians smile and returned to Twilight, who was waiting nearby. She beamed proudly at me.

“There we go. Now all you need to do is pick out a pair that fits you best.” She looked around at all of the glinting lenses. “I wish we’d brought Rarity for this. She’s better at it.”

“Perhaps, but I’m sure we’ll be fine.” I said lightly. “Besides, I’d much rather hear what you think, since that’s something you are definitely the best at.”

“Aw, thank you, Dusk.” She shyly nuzzled my neck, but I could still feel the warmth from the gesture. “You can be quite… sweet at times.”

“Thanks.” I mumbled. Compliments like that were another thing we were still getting used to. “Right, let’s have a look at these then.”

I grabbed down the first pair I could see, a pair of typical round spectacles. When I put them on, they instantly made my eyesight so much more clear that I almost jumped in surprise. I looked at them in the mirror, but decided within seconds that these didn’t suit me at all. They made me look too geeky… wow, now I was thinking like both Rarity and Rainbow Dash. Possibly like Shield too.

I turned to look at Twilight, but ended up stopping and staring for a few minutes before she brought me out of my reverie.

“Sorry, it’s just… I’d forgotten how… well…”

“Forgotten what?” she asked gently.

“How… amazing you look.”

This comment obviously caught her off-guard, her eyes widening like saucers. But they soon sparkled with happiness, an expression reflected in her perfect smile.

“You really are sweet.” she echoed utter assurance, enough to make my face burn. “Thank you. So… not the right pair?”

“What? Oh, the glasses! No, I don’t think so.” I placed them back and put on the next set that looked rather like sunglasses.

“Oh, that works!” Twilight remarked. “You look cool with those ones.”

“Cool, yes.” I nodded, noting how much I looked like some kind of secret agent with them on. “But… cool isn’t really me, more like our mutual cyan friend. Along with our green bud.”

“I know what you mean.” she giggled. “I think they look good on you, but if you don’t like them, that’s fine.”

“Thanks.” I said warmly, putting them back and stopping to have a think.

I was rather reminded of the time I had picked out my now iconic trilby. I didn’t want to look too geeky wearing them, but that didn’t mean I was unashamed of my intelligence. I wanted to look okay in them, but not end up looking like a rock star. Something that still looked decent and allowed me to see clearly, a middle ground in a sense.

I browsed for a few more minutes, stopping and pausing on some, but eventually moving on to the next set. All the while, Twilight waited patiently, providing the occasional bit of insight on what she thought looked good for me. Most of the time, we found ourselves agreeing with one another in this sense and were gradually narrowing down the choices. It seemed like it was taking a while, but because I was with her, time seemed immaterial in that moment.

Finally, I found myself lingering a little longer than normal on a pair of black-rimmed, square-shaped reading glasses. They allowed me to see better than before, which was ultimately what I wanted, but they also helped to, as Rarity had put it, emphasize my intelligence. They didn’t make me look like a nerd, they just made me look… clever. And, if Rarity was correct, my cleverness is what made me cool like an Axel. Plus, the color worked well with my hat, so that was another bonus.

I turned to Twilight, feeling the smile grow on my face, which was matched by her. She nodded in satisfaction.

“Do we have a winner?” she asked.

“I think we do. What do you think?”

“I think so too.”

“Then it’s settled.” we both said in unison. Blushing and laughing, I paid for them and walked back out into Ponyville.

Already, I could see the much needed improvement. Like somepony had made some sort of adjustment to me, I could see clearly once again, making out every little detail from the clouds in the clear blue sky, to the stones upon the ground. Even better, I could once again make out the beautiful face of Twilight Sparkle and be dazzled again by her radiant smile.

Caught up in the moment, I leaned in and bestowed a kiss on her cheek. She blinked and gasped in surprise from the gesture.

“Whoa… what was that for?”

“Oh, um… well… just happy, that’s all.” I mumbled, feeling embarrassed again. “I didn’t think you’d mind…”

I felt her hoof touch my cheek, turn my face back around, and her lips briefly on mine for a bit, giving me that fleeting feeling that I was like a Pegasus in flight.

“I never said I did.” Nuzzling my cheek again, I grinning once more, we walked side-by-side through the streets. “For the record, I think you look cute in those glasses.”

“Really? You do?”

“Certainly. Now come on, let’s go back and give Spike a hoof.” she suggested, leading me off.

“Right you are, Ms. Sparkle.” Walking alongside her, my new glasses propped on my eyes, I decided that perhaps wearing these wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Dread’s view

Within my throne room, my Dark Gang brothers and sisters were discussing on the very nature of our situation, especially about the recent developments that had been discovered in Canterlot.

“Are you serious, boss?” our earth elemental Hubris Cobbleron asked, surprised by what I just told him. “The Element Squad have now become an Element Gang and now have the Elements of Harmony?”

“I’m afraid so, Hubris.” I told him. “As our spies in Canterlot have reported, the Element Gang have been revealed to wield the Elements, that Fire Dragon rat now this new seventh Element.”

“Well, this is just great.” Said Gloomilla Zaptak, our lightning elemental, with annoyed tone of voice of hers. “First, I find out that Pinkie Pie is an Element of Harmony—and the one I hate the most—and now I find out she gotten together with her Element Gang besties.” She emphasized those last three words in a mocking tone.

“Is this really a problem, Dread?” said Sly Glacerox, our ice elemental who would only save his skill of deception in his words for those outside of our brotherhood and help our cause. “I thought you weren’t worried about the Elements of Harmony. You said they weren’t a problem.”

“That was before Noir came in with that new one, Sly!” I told him. “The Element of Unity… it seems as though the Elements are more connected to the Element Gang than we thought if one of their virtues is embodied as one of them.”

“Eh, big whoop.” Shrugged our water elemental Dander Devabass. “So they got the Elements of Harmony. Doesn’t mean we can’t still crush them. They’re still a bunch of pansies, especially now that they got more girls around.”

“And what is that supposed to me?!” Gloomilla said, glaring at Dander.

“Settle down, Gloomilla.” I spoke out, preventing any conflict that might prove pointless. “And do not underestimate them, Dander. This is more dire than you think. We have also received news that Noir is not only responsible for the defeat of Discord, but Nightmare Moon as well.”

“Nightmare Moon?” Sly was surprised by this. “But I thought he was stuck in Canterlot and we all know it was the two elementals and those other mares that fought that alicorn.”

“Well, it seems as though the rat has received a little help.” I then explained. “I have reason to believe that Dialga had allowed Dusk to travel to the past to bring Nightmare Moon’s downfall.”

“Wait, a Legendary Pokémon helped them?” Hubris asked. “Why in Equus would they do that?”

“For that, I have no idea. But that doesn’t matter now.” I spoke out to them all. “In light of this, it is now more important than ever that we strike as soon as possible.”

“Well I can’t wait until we get to Canterlot and take all the treasure there is, especially those Elements.” Our air elemental Aviditonia Pilfeon put in. “I hear they have amazing gems which I think would just make the perfect accessories for me.”

“And you’ll get your chance to see those Elements, Avidity.” I told her. “As soon as we crush the Element Gang and their friends.” It was then that I heard the doors open and we all looked to see Whirlpool running up to us.

“Lord Dread,” He said as he bowed to me, “everything is ready, all soldiers awaiting your command.”

“Good.” I said with a smile of glee. “Then send the messengers to Ponyville at once!”

“Yes, my lord!” Whirlpool said before he got up and turned to leave, closing the doors behind him as he left and reentered the halls of our base.

I smiled at anticipation, thinking about how sweet our victory will be when we destroy the Element Gang once and for all. My brothers and sisters were the same, their smiles showing how eager they were to crushing them all.

No one’s view

Within a different part of the Dark Gang’s base, there stood two Earth pony soldiers in front of a large, metal crate with a metal bar door. Inside the crate laid what appears to be unicorn pony concealed in shadow, a depressed look on their face. There was a moment of silence until…

Clink-clink!

The pony then looked over to the door, glaring with hazel brown eyes.

“Here’s lunch.” Said the voice of stallion as a bowl of some sort of salad lettuce and bits of some sort of meat was placed in front of the pony, them looking towards the owner of the voice. “Hey, cheer up. Good news, you’re going to Ponyville. Heard you got some family there.” The pony in the cage gave a small, animal growl. “Yeah, when you get there and if you can, say hello to that cousin of yours for me!” With a burst of laughter, hoofsteps are heard, indicating the pony at the door had left.

Sighing in depression, the pony in the cage then looked at the bowl. It was then that a blue light formed on his head, revealing he was a unicorn. Surrounded in an aura of the same light, the bowl is then lifted and brought over to the pony. The light disappearing, the pony then took the bowl, revealing he had five-digit claws instead of front hooves as he sat up and held the bowl in one claw, and began eating the food out of it. After a moment, the pony then looked up at the ceiling with pleading look on his face, giving out a silent prayer.

“Looks like we’re gonna meet again, Dusk.” The pony said, his voice sounding much like the one belonging to the assistant librarian. “Just hope you make it out alive… brother.”

Author's Note

After much consideration, Dusk has finally decided to obtain lenses to restore his sight which will come to help him with his daily life as he continues living in Ponyville and learn more of the magic that resides in his romantic relationship with Twilight. But, even with things turning out for the better, there is a looming threat that will soon come to Ponyville. Find out what will happen next time!

Hey, guys! What did you think of the chapter? Now Dusk has a new addition to his ensemble, now looking cool and smart with his tribly and new glasses. And here's a little thing: the round glasses do reference to something that Dusk talked about in the prelude. If you've seen the works of my bud Element Writer, you might already guess what that is. And do you like the foreshadowing? You might already have a good guess on what's about to happen next. In the next chapter, Dusk and his friends are going to dealing with the oldest enemies from the Element Squad's past. Well, that’s all I got for this chapter! Don’t forget to comment and rate the story to tell me what you think!

Chapter 2: Attack of the Dark Gang

Another day started off as usual with me working in the library, helping Twilight reorganize the shelves, how normal it usually gets. I worked on the shelves to the west and Twilight worked on the shelves to the east. It seemed to be going quite perfectly, reorganizing “History” with “Literature” and such. My concentration was perfectly on key and it seemed like nothing could break it.

“Hey, Dusk, can I ask you a few questions?” Twilight asked.

“Ask away.” I said, giving her my approval.

“What was your father like before he passed away?” That question got me to stop and leave a few books in the air.

“Huh. Never had anypony ask me that question.”

“I’m just a little curious. I mean, he was the Fire Dragon before you and his teachings did kind of made you who you are. Sorry about asking. If you don’t want to talk about him, it’s fine.”

“No need to apologize. It’s fine.” Though I was hesitant, I decided that she deserved to know. “Well, I can’t tell you much. I did only have a few years with him as well as the time I spent trying to live up to the mantle he had as the previous El Dragon. While under his teachings, he was kind and wise. Practically was the best teacher and father I’d ever had. While trying to be the best Fire Dragon I could be, I learned of his endless competency and charisma which made him a legend.”

“Your father sounds like a great stallion.”

“He was. Though most of the things I now know about him were what I got from being here in Ponyville.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I found out that he had friends here in Ponyville.”

“Really?” Twilight was surprised by this.

“Yeah, I could hardly believe it either. Turns out my father used to visit this town when he was around my age.”

“Huh. And how did you find out?”

“Remember that one time we went to Sweet Apple Acres and I went into the barn?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, when I did, I ran into Applejack’s grandmother who said I looked like my father.”

“Granny Smith? She knew your father?”

“Yeah. Turns out Applejack’s father, Granny Smith’s son Bright Macintosh, was friends with my father.”

“Wait, Applejack’s father and your father were friends?” Twilight was once again surprised by this. “That’s amazing. I guess that’s another connection you and Applejack share.”

“In a way, yes.” I then went on to continue explaining. “When I got a chance during my visits to Sweet Apple Acres, I would ask Granny Smith about what my father was like. Of course, when it came to much of the majority, she told me to ask some of the other friends he made that still lived in Ponyville. Turns out those friends she was talking about were the local firewood salespony Mr. Oak and Mrs. Cake.”

“Mrs. Cake knew your father?”

“Yeah. Back then when Mrs. Cake used to go by the name Chiffon Swirl. It turns out that I take after my father when it comes to cooking.”

“I’m guessing Mrs. Cake knew not to let you near the stove then.” She gave a slight giggle which I only shrugged and smiled to. “Well, did you learn anything from them?”

“Quite a lot. According to them, in his youth, my father had qualities I didn’t quite expect from him. He was exuberant, filled with dramatic flair, extremely friendly, amicable, an optimist, and somewhat of an oaf.”

“Well, I guess that would explain some things.”

I lost my smile before I raised a brow at that. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I mean, you do share some things with your father.”

“Like what?”

“Well, you’re extremely friendly, amicable, optimistic, and somewhat of an oaf.”

“When have I ever been an oaf?”

“Well…”

“Don’t answer that. Anyway, from what they told me, my father was a bigger oaf than I was. The only guy I would know who would be as much an oaf like that would be my brother.”

“Your brother?” She asked with surprise, where I realized what I just said.

“Whoops.” I was mentally slapping my forehead for letting that slip out.

“Dusk, is there something you’re not telling me?”

“Well…” Before I could make an excuse for this, there was the sound of explosions outside.

When it all became silent, Twilight and I went outside and tried to look for the source. When the explosions began again, we looked behind the library to see smoke coming from downtown.

“What in Equestria?” I said before the sound of screaming and looked to find ponies running from the direction of the explosions, no doubt the residents that were living in the area and were trying to get away from the source of the explosions.

“Dusk!” Looking forward, I watched as an Earth pony who I knew by the name Shamrock rushed over to me, looking quite frightened.

“Shamrock, what’s wrong?” I asked him.

“You got to help us!” he said to me. “Some maniacs over there are throwing bombs at us!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this. Just get somewhere safe.” I said to him. After he did as I said, I then turned to Twilight. “Well, duty calls. Think you’re up to wrangling some pyrotechnic lunatics?”

“After dealing with an army of Paraserpents? This will be easy.” She said to me, looking ready to go. “Besides, we’re a team. Whatever we go, we do it together.”

“Then let’s go.” I said as we then ran towards downtown. As we rushed through the streets, we crossed paths with Leon as he soon caught up to us. “Leon!”

“See you saw the explosions too.” Leon said to us. “Heard them all the way from the cottage. What’s going on?”

“Well, apparently some lunatics just came to Ponyville and are wrecking everything.” I told him as the explosions became louder, a sign we were getting closer. “Better stop them before they get anywhere else.”

“Watch out!” Said a voice before the three of us were all pushed to the side by a cyan blur and an explosion went off where we were heading.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight said as we saw were saved by fast-flying Pegasus herself.

“You guys okay?” Rainbow asked as we all got to our hooves, me lending Twilight a helping claw.

“We’re fine.” I said to the pegasus. “Thanks for the save. I guess you and Shield saw the explosions too?”

“Saw and found who’s blowing things up around here.” Rainbow told us. “Shield’s over there dealing with them now.”

Hearing screaming, we all looked to see Shield flying through the air before he crashed into the ground, landing a few feet away from us.

“Shield!” I said as the three of us went over to him, the earth elemental managing to return to his feet. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Shield said, shaking too soot off his fur before continuing. “Benefit at being fast is that I can escape a bomb and only get soot on me.”

“Speaking of bombs, we heard some maniacs were responsible for the explosions.” I said to him. “I’m guessing you found out who they are?”

“Yeah, we did and you’re not gonna believe who they are.” Shield said before he turned to look behind him. “Looks like we got ourselves a late present from Dread.”

Looking beyond him, I saw the ones Shamrock told us about (who were lighting and throwing bombs all around) were a group of ponies dressed in black ninja gi and masks as well as silver armor. On the foreheads of their masks was a single silver forehead protector plate that bore the dark purple image of a demonic eye with a slit pupil made from two curved arcs and two small plumes on the midsections of the arcs at the two points of the slit pupil, the plumes curving to intersect in the middle. I knew these ponies very well and they were ones I haven’t seen in quite a long time.

“Shadow Warriors!” I said in shock.

“Shadow Warriors?” Rainbow asked in confusion.

“The personal lackeys of the Dark Gang.” Shield said, facing the Shadow Warriors with a glare. “Much like them, they cause trouble wherever they go.”

“I’ve seen them in Canterlot. They’re all wanted criminals.” Twilight spoke up. “But nopony has seen them in moons. Why are they here?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Shield said to her. “Dread heard what we did to Discord and sent us a little congrats for taking down his competition.”

“Dread?” Twilight asked in confusion.

“Dread Blight.” I explained to my girlfriend. “The leader of the Dark Gang. He commands all the Shadow Warriors, including the ones you see before you.” I then turned back to Shield. “Do you know who’s leading them?”

“No. In fact, I’m not sure they do have someone leading them.” Shield told me. “Didn’t find anyone with squad captain duds.”

“A squad of Shadow Warriors without a captain?” I said, surprised as this was completely unlike Dread’s strategy. “That’s unusual. Dread always sends a captain with every squad.”

“Well, looks like he decided not to.” Shield told me.

“No. Something’s not right.” I said before pushing away my curious thoughts aside. “We can worry about that later. Right now, we need to stop these Shadow Warriors before they do too much damage.” With that, I then pulled out my communicator and called Dog, Rarity, and Leon. Though I only managed to get Rarity, Dog, and Leon on the line. “Dog, Leon, Rarity! We got a squad of Shadow Warriors attacking Ponyville.”

“Shadow Warriors?” Leon said. “Around here?”

“Yeah, and they’re tossing bombs all over the place.” I told them. “Mind coming down here and helping us in stopping them?”

“Already on our way.” Dog said to me. “Though would it be okay if AJ joined us?”

“I think it would be fine.” I told him. “There’s only about thirty of them.”

“Thirty?” Leon said with surprise. “That’s a small squad.”

“Yeah, doesn’t Dread usually sent like twice as much?” Dog asked.

“Apparently, not today.” I told them.

“While I do not like throwing myself into the fray like this, I will do what I must to protect our town.” Rarity told me.

“Great to have you on board. All of you, head downtown and let’s stop this Shadow Warrior rampage.” I said, putting away my communicator after they all gave confirmation they would arrive.

“Hold on, cap.” Shield said to me as I turned to him. “Aren’t you gonna call Pinkie too?”

“Won’t need to.” I told him. “Considering Pinkie Pie, I would have to say that she’s probably…”

“Ha-ha! Missed me!” Hearing her cheerful voice, we turned and watched as Pinkie Pie toyed around with the Shadow Warriors, disappearing and reappearing in random locations amongst the criminals as she dodged their bombs. “Missed me again!” With dodging another bomb, she popped out of a nearby barrel and blew a raspberry before quickly retreating back down as another bomb was tossed over. Though it destroyed the barrel, the explosion didn’t harm the energetic pony as she appeared on the head of a Shadow Warrior. “Wow, you guys are really bad at this.”

“No, wait!” the Shadow Warrior Pinkie was on said as a bomb was tossed at them, the pink pony jumping away as the other Shadow Warriors ran away before the explosion sent him flying through a window.

“Already here.” I said as I finished what I was saying before. “The wild card of our team, fillies and gentlecolt.”

“Yeah, you can’t compete with Pinkie’s wackiness.” Shield said with an amused smile.

“Whoa!” Leon said as we looked to see him, Rarity, Dog, and Applejack run over to us. “First time Pinkie’s fighting Shadow Warriors and she already haves them firing at each other.”

“Yeah, though we should probably join in before they end up giving each other burns.” I said before I turned to Twilight. “Ms. Sparkle, mind helping us in this fight?”

“You want me to help?” my girlfriend said with surprise.

“Of course. Might as well get some experience in fighting them.” I said to her. “Besides, with so little of them and the fact they don’t have a captain, they’ll be easy to take down.”

“Okay, if you say so.” She said before she joined us and we all got ready to charge.

“Ya ready, AJ?” Dog asked his fellow cowpony.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” She told him.

“How about you, Dashie?” Shield asked the pegasus.

“I was born ready!” Rainbow told him.

“Then let’s go!” I said before we all rushed in and joined the fight.

The battle was only a bit of a skirmish with the Shadow Warriors tossing bombs, along with using hoof-to-hoof attacks (mostly from the Earth ponies of the squad), trying to use flight to their advantage (only with the pegasus of the group), and magic blasts (only coming from the unicorn soldiers) while we retaliated in about the same ways with Rainbow managing to take on the Shadow Warriors who took to the sky. Thanks to Pinkie, the Shadow Warriors had managed to waste their ammunition and it didn’t take long before they ran out of bombs to use. After they did, it only took about a few minutes until we managed to beat them all unconscious, the whole bunch of Shadow Warriors lying on the ground with their cloth uniforms tattered, torn, and baring singe marks.

“Aw! No more?” Shield said in disappointment. “I was just getting warmed up.”

“Wow, that was easier than I thought it was going to be.” Leon said with confidence. “We didn’t even need to use our elemental powers.”

“Yeah, this was rather quick.” I said, a little baffled by how quick the battle ended. “Seemed like these Shadow Warriors were relying on those bombs than anything. I wonder why?”

“Uh, Dusk?” Dog said as he looked at a couple of Shadow Warriors with surprise. “These guys don’t have Clovers.”

“What?” I asked, surprised by this. “None of them?”

“Clovers?” Rainbow asked as she landed beside Shield.

“Clover cutie marks.” Shield told her. “You know, like those guys who have that really cool magic without being a unicorn. No offense, Twi.”

“None taken.” Twilight brushed off.

“This doesn’t make any sense.” I said as I tried to take in this new information. “Dread usually haves at least one Clover mage in these squads. All these guys are regular ponies.”

“You mean Dread just sent a bunch of normal guys just to toss bombs everywhere?” Leon asked with surprise. “Why would he do that?”

“He wouldn’t. Dread wouldn’t just have a bunch of random soldiers go out here like this.” I said before I then pieced it together. “Unless…”

“Unless what?” Applejack asked me.

“These guys weren’t meant to beat us.” I answered. “They were meant to lure us out.”

Just then, looking beyond everypony who then turned to follow my gaze, we all saw nine more Shadow Warriors appeared out of nowhere. One in front of the other eight was an Earth pony stallion that possessed claws dressed in silver armor resembling that of a samurai with a purple head crest shaped like the eye on the others’ forehead plates. Seeing this style, I knew this had to be the squad captain of these Shadow Warriors.

“We’ve been waiting for you, Mr. Noir.” Said the squad captain as he stood in front of his squad.

“We’ll then you’ve been waiting for a butt-whooping.” Rainbow said as Shield held her back with one foreleg.

“Easy there, Dashie.” He told her before I spoke to the captain.

“Yeah, I’m here.” I said to the Shadow Warrior, getting to the point. “So mind telling me what you’re doing in Ponyville? You certainly went through a lot of trouble just to draw us out and I highly doubt that Dread would allow his own foot soldiers to run around without a reason.”

“There is a reason. A reason of which you should worry, Mr. Noir.” He said to me before holding up a rolled-up parchment to me. “I deliver a message, from our lord himself.” Using my magic, I then took the parchment and saw the Dark Gang’s symbol on the ribbon holding it before looking back to the Shadow Warriors with a glare. “Our mission is now complete. Now we will take our leave.” He then held up a black ball in his claw, one I recognized. “Shadow Warriors, vanish!”

With that, he then tossed it down on the ground and the whole area was covered in black smoke. As we all coughed from the smoke, I managed to catch glimpse of a few flashes which disappeared as quickly as they appeared. After a moment, Rarity decided to clear the fog away, using her wind powers to disperse the smoke. With the smoke gone, we all looked and saw all the Shadow Warriors got away.

“Man, I hate those smoke bombs.” Shield said in annoyance.

“Okay, let me get this straight.” Rainbow said, having the same feeling. “This Dread guy sent a bunch of guys who trashed our town as messenger ponies?”

“Why would he go through all that just to send you a letter?” Twilight asked me.

“Let’s find out.” I said as I opened the parchment and read what was written inside.

When I was done reading and gave a quick reread, I was in utter shock and disbelief by what I just learned.

“Cap, you okay?” Shield asked me with concern.

“No, I’m not okay.” I answered him in fear. “Guys, head towards the library. Leon, get Fluttershy and bring her there now!”

“What? Why?” Leon asked in confusion.

“Just do it!” I told him. “I’ll explain once you two are there.”

“Alright.” Leon said as he then went off to get Fluttershy from the cottage.

A while after we arrived at the library and waited for Leon and Fluttershy to join us, there was a good moment of silence before Shield spoke up.

“So, Dusk…” Shield said, trying to make some small talk. “I see you got some new glasses there.”

“Yeah, I just got them a little while ago.” I said, feeling a little at ease with this. “I was going to show them to you all at the picnic we planned for today.”

“Ooh, ooh! Let me see!” Pinkie Pie said as she dashed over, snatching my glasses off my face and putting them on. “Whoa! This is weeeeeird! And fun! Look how big my hoof is!”

“Well, they are only meant to be worn by those who need them, Pinkie.” Rarity pointed out.

“Speakin’ of which, I’m pretty sure Dusk would like those back so he can see.” Dog added.

“Oops, sorry!” Pinkie said as she gently put them back on. “Still, good look though. They make you look as Smartypants as you actually are.”

“Another way of saying he looks like a geek.” Rainbow sniggered.

“Now, I don’t think it doesn’t matter what way he looks like, just so long as he can see.” the ever-practical Applejack said.

“Right you are, Applejack.” Twilight said before she spoke to the pegasus. “Now, Rainbow, it is quite rude to call Dusk a geek so I do believe you owe him an apology.”

“Hey, lighten up, Twilight. I didn’t want to sound like a jerk.” Rainbow placated. “Dusk knows I don’t mean anything. Right, Dusk?”

“Certainly.” I told her before we turned to the door as Fluttershy and Leon walked in.

“Okay, we’re here.” Leon said as they came over.

“Is everything alright, Big Brother?” Fluttershy asked with worry.

“Not exactly.” I told her before holding up the letter. “The Dark Gang is challenging us. It says here that they are coming to Ponyville with an army by tomorrow!” This causes everypony to gasp in shock. “With this dire threat on the line, we have to get ready for it.” I then went on to get the preparations underway. “We’re at Code Nova Red! I repeat, Code Nova Red!”

“I’ll go tell the mayor!” Shield said after he opened the door and rushed right out.

“Dusk, what is going on?” Twilight asked me in concern. “What is Code Nova Red?”

“Evacuation protocol.” I answered her. “We’re preparing to get everypony out of Ponyville. With the Dark Gang bringing an army, we have to avoid anypony getting caught in the crossfire. All of you, get to your families and prepare to leave immediately.”

“Ya got it!” Dog said before he got Applejack and the two left. “Come on, AJ.”

“Do you think they’re gonna bring Anti-Dragon with them?” Leon asked me in concern.

“No doubt about that.” I said, feeling much dread at the thought I would have to fight that monster again. “He is Dread’s biggest advantage over me.”

“Anti-what now?” Spike asked with an arched brow.

“The Anti-Dragon is a creature that Dread created in order to combat me.” I answered him. “It haves the ability to drain my powers. Though, even with that, it’s not what makes me worried about facing it.”

“Dusk, what do you mean?” Twilight asked in concern.

“Twilight, remember the little talk we had earlier about my father?” I said to her. “Well, I’m not the only son of the family.” Gathering up my courage in that brief moment, I then got ready to tell her. “You see… the Anti-Dragon is… my brother.”

“What?” Twilight said in disbelief.

“His name is Husk Noir, my twin brother.” I told her as I explained. “Years ago, Dread kidnapped him and put him into a symbiote, a living liquid that turned him into the Anti-Dragon.”

“So you mean you have to fight your bro?” Spike asked, provoking a nod from me.

“Dusk, why didn’t you tell me about Husk?” Twilight asked.

“Because Husk is my only brother. I didn’t want you getting in the middle of it. He’s my brother, so he means that he’s my problem. Also, I didn’t want you to get hurt from trying to help me.”

I then felt a hoof on my shoulder and looked to Twilight as she said “Dusk, while I’m mad at you for keeping this from me, I do understand that you’re just looking out for me, for all of us. We’ll help you no matter what.”

“Well, thank you.” I told her with a grateful smile.

“Is there any way to help him?” she asked me.

“I’m afraid not.” I told her as I lost my smile. “Symbiotes don’t let go of their hosts so easily, especially when it is their first. Plus, the Anti-Dragon is under Dread’s control thanks to those little control chips he planted inside the symbiote which are impossible to even get to, much less remove.” I then pushed my depression aside to focus on the task at hoof. “Let’s not linger on this. We need to evacuate everypony before the Dark Gang arrives! So let’s go!”

With that, we all then went out to get evacuations underway. Hopefully, we can get everypony out before it was too late.

No one’s view

The crack of dawn. In the Shadow Warrior caserns, all of the Dark Gang soldiers are putting on their armor as they prepare for the battle. It was only until a voice calls out for P.A. speakers.

“Ponyville Attack Brigade, report to the transport hall immediately.” Said the voice over the P.A., a majority of the Shadow Warriors present in the room start putting on their masks and walking away. “Repeat, all Shadow Warriors for the attack on Ponyville, report to the transport hall.”

A silver-blue pegasus stallion with a black mane and yellow eyes was about to put his mask on and join his fellow soldiers when he notices a unicorn stallion who didn’t wear a mask to conceal his beige head and dark brown mane walking away in the opposite direction.

“Hey, Negatron!” said the pegasus Shadow Warrior, causing the beige unicorn to turn to him. “Where are you going? The transport hall is this way.”

“I’m not going with you guys.” The unicorn known as Negatron negatively said, his orange eyes in an emotionless gaze. “I’m just gonna stick around here with everybody else who didn’t get picked out.”

“Seriously?” his fellow Shadow Warrior was surprised. “Come on, man. This is the big moment! We’re finally gonna beat the Element Gang!”

“Nope, not gonna work.”

“You doubt Dread’s plan?”

“Element Gang always wins. He thinks Dusk’s gonna be dead, but then he’s not dead.”

“Be glad Dread didn’t hear you say that. He’s not gonna take that from somepony who only comes into battle in a canoe.”

“When there’s a battle on a gently moving river, they’ll want me.”

“Dude, come on. This is our chance in the big leagues! We’re finally gonna get recognized!”

“Yeah, as criminal lackeys. Did you forget who we work for, Dirge Eagle?”

“You know, that negative attitude is never gonna do you any favors.”

“Whatever you say, but I’m still not going.”

“Fine. Your lost.” With that, Dirge Eagle put on his mask and ran off to join his fellow Shadow Warriors.

Dread’s view

The crack of dawn. My army had assembled in the transport hall as they awaited my speech to them. Going to the balcony that was located a mile above the ground level where my vast army of Shadow Warriors were waiting for me to speak with them, shouting out the name “Dargon” as they stamped their hooves and claws.

“They’re ready for you, my lord.” Whirlpool informed me before I walked out into the view of my soldiers.

“Greetings, my loyal brothers and sisters!” I spoke out to them, my voice echoing through the hall. “As you’ve all know, we have been preparing long and hard for what has to be the biggest moment of our lives. We have tracked down our great foes the Element Gang who had come to interfere in our plans one too many times already. We have found them in the worthless town of Ponyville which is full of only the weakest and most inferior ponies in existence, those who all accept the ideas of one the biggest false leaders in all of Equus: Princess Celestia. Today is the day we change it all. Today is the day we finally open the doors to our true future. Today… is the day the Element Gang falls!”

“We shall go to that worthless town and burn it all to the ground with the very six who dare to stand in our way. With them gone, nothing will stand in our way. We shall carve the path to rid this world of all imperfection, the so-called order that the false leaders created and try to maintain. The very system of which left us all to be left with nothing but pain as we are abandoned by their vision of society who does not know see it all as the cage it is to which only we hold the key. Unlike the self-proclaimed rulers who hold the privilege of how the world should be like false deities, we will make this world where we will never suffer the oppression and injustice inflicted upon us by them. A world open to all of us.” With that great cheer, I continued on. “Yes, to all of us!”

“Equestria shall be the start of our glorious empire which will continue to grow and blossom! Do this. Prove yourselves. Prove yourselves to me! Be loyal to me! And I will never betray you! We will maximize efficiency, rid our new world of imperfection! For throughout the chaos, we shall create a new world order through which all those who only oppressed and disgraced us, those who rejected us, those who abandoned us and treated us like nothing shall now know the pain of which we all suffered! Now let us claim this day! Let us claim our victory! For this… is our destiny!”

Smiling confidently while my fellow elementals joined me at the balcony, I then used my magic to teleport us all down, the army becoming silent as the six of us transformed into our elemental forms. With that, we stood at the front of the army before I used my magic to activate the transport circle, instantly teleporting to the marked location my messenger had set for us. After being brought my telescope by one of my Shadow Warriors, I then looked toward the south to see the little settlement of which the bothersome Element Gang resided to which we would be able to arrive at when the sun was at its peak.

“Shadow Warriors, onward! To victory!” With a cheer from my Shadow Warriors, we all then began our march towards Ponyville.

Husk’s view

While my cage was being pulled with the army, I couldn’t help but feel a lot of dread as it wasn’t going to be long until we reached Ponyville… and I would have to fight Dusk again. And to think, the first time I’m gonna meet all of my bro’s new Ponyville friends might be the only time I’ll meet them. Dusk, I really hope you’re ready for all this ‘cause you’re gonna need all the luck you can get.

Twilight’s view

It took us a while, but we managed to get everypony out before the Dark Gang arrived. We were so far away from Ponyville that we could see it from a distance. It was just then that Rainbow Dash, who I had look around to make sure we aren’t missing anypony, came back to tell me everypony was accounted for.

“Okay, that’s everypony.” I said after finding everypony in Ponyville was accounted for.

“Good. Now everypony will be safe while we deal with the Dark Gang.” Dusk said before he looked to his fellow elementals. “Let’s go and get ready for the fight ahead.”

With the six transforming into their elemental forms, me and Spike started to follow the elementals so we could help them fight the Dark Gang and so did Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash as they joined us. Before we even went too far, Dusk sighed as he and the others stopped and turned around to face us.

“Not you.” He told us. “Not this time. You can’t join this fight.”

“What?” The five of us said in shock.

“Why not?” Rainbow said, not wanting to be excluded like the rest of us.

“These aren’t your ordinary villains, Rainbow Dash.” He told us. “This is the Dark Gang, who have been trying to kill us for years. They won’t stop until we’re dead. Only the six of us can even match them.”

“Dusk, stop trying to be the hero.” Spike spoke up. “If these guys are as bad as you say, then it just makes sense that we all stay together.”

“Not really.” Shield put in. “Dusk’s right. Those guys have a whole army backing them up. None of you guys have faced something like that.”

“Yeah, and not only that, but these aren’t monsters either.” Leon added. “These are other ponies who are trained to kill like the Dark Gang.”

“Are you two seriously going along with this?” Rainbow asked Rarity and Pinkie in disbelief.

“Sorry, guys.” Pinkie Pie said with a look of despair.

“Yes, we both are.” Rarity added, looking just the same. “It’s nothing personal. But even we know when a situation is too dire for anypony other than the six of us to be involved.”

“Exactly. Which is why you’ll be helping us by making sure everypony from town is safe.” Dusk said.

“Dusk, I’m not leaving you.” I told him, refusing to leave my boyfriend alone.

“Twilight, please.” Dusk said to me. “I can’t let you join this fight, especially against Dread. He’s the worst villain in Equestria.”

“I don’t care!” I told him. “I’m not going to let you get killed!”

“Twilight, please understand.”

“Understand what? What do you want me to understand? What reason do you have to tell me to stand aside and watch you risk your life like that?”

“Twilight, he killed my father!”

“What?” I was shocked by what he said.

It was only a moment before he gave a look of sadness and began to explain.

“Twilight, the day Dread kidnapped Husk, that Dargon actually tried to kill me. My father sacrificed himself to save me. Losing them both like that really tore me apart. If anything were to happen to you, I could never live with myself. So please, just stay with the townspeople and be safe.”

“Dusk, please.” I begged, feeling the tears fill my eyes. “I don’t want to lose you again.”

“Twilight, I don’t want to do this anymore than you do, but I have to. It’s my job.” He then wiped away a tear that had flowed down to my cheek as he gave me a pleading look. “Please. You’re the most important pony in my life. All I want is to see that you’re still okay. I promise you I’ll come back. Just stay safe, okay?”

Though I really didn’t want to, I decided to accept defeat and let him go do what he needs to. “Okay.”

“Thank you, Ms. Sparkle.” With that, he then whistled out and Ophelia flew in to perch on his arm. “Ophelia, stay with Twilight until I get back and help her make sure everypony is safe.” With a nod from her, I watched as Ophelia then flew over and sat on my head.

Seeing as this might be the last time, I then gave Dusk a kiss on the lips. “Come home safe.”

“I will.”

“Leon, please! Don’t go!” Fluttershy said as she pulled Leon into a hug, tears following from her eyes. “Please.”

“Flutters, it’s okay. I’ve dealt with the Dark Gang before.” Leon said as he got out of the hug and held her. “And I’m going to come back.”

“Promise?” she asked.

“Promise.” He said as they shared one last hug before going their separate ways.

“Better not die out there, Shield.” Rainbow said as she flew in front of Shield. “Don’t want to lose my partner in the Wonderbolts.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back before you know it.” Shield said as the two daredevils’ hoofbumped.

“Be careful out there, Dog.” Applejack said to her old friend. “If ya’ll don’t come back, I swear…”

“No reason to fret, AJ.” Dog told her. “We’ll be back before ya know it.”

With all this, we all then watched as the elementals left to go back to Ponyville and prepare to fight the Dark Gang. After watching for a moment, me, the girls, and Spike then joined the crowd as we got as far away from Ponyville as possible. As we did, I was really hoping for Dusk to come back as I can’t really bear the thought of living without him.

Dusk’s view

A while after we returned Ponyville, my fellow elementals and I all waited at the center of town in single-file, a formation which showed we were ready for whatever the Dark Gang had to throw at us. With the sun at its peak, we all then watch as Shadow Warriors flooded into Ponyville, Earth pony and unicorn soldiers filling the streets and the pegasus soldier lined up in the air. All of them were equipped with weapons, like bo staffs, nunchucks, and swords in their hooves (being held by magic by the unicorns and dual weaponry being used by the pegasus). It was only a moment before I heard the vile, demon-like voice of the one leading this army as he and his team walked through the path formed by the Shadow Warriors who moved aside as the Dark Gang came up to the front.

To let you know how the Dark Gang looks, they are dark purple, they have silver armor, and red eyes. Five of these criminals resembled the very heroes who shared the same element, but these members of the Dark Gang looked more demonic versions of them. Their voices matched their appearance, sounding greatly demonic. The Dark Gang’s Apolloid Tristone looked more like a golem-like bull with black spikes on his shoulders stone hooves, a spiked boulder at the end of his tail, and a fanged mouth that resembled a crack in a piece of rock. The greedy Darkwing looked like Torna, but her hair was left hanging out in unruly spirals of black, her mouth was a set of silver plates resembling fangs, and her wings resembled dark purple mechanical ones that could also work as claws with those dark purple slates. Posidacus’ adversary and the cruelest of the cruel Darktillian had a black dome mask, a purple amphibious flap that reaches down to his shoulders resembled a shroud, an amphibian tail, and teeth as sharp as a piranha.

DarkBlade resembled more of a tiger than ShockBlade with large fangs, that tiger head, and that tail. Her armor had large blades on the shoulders, spikes on her back, and a curved blade on the tip of her tail. Icedra’s villain counterpart Darkdra had a nose on his muzzle, silver fangs jetting out of his mouth, and spike down his tail. The Dargon Dread sat up to ten feet tall as a dark purple dragon with a serpent body (measured about five feet long) with a silver underside, a fang full of silver teeth, three silver horns that curve upwards towards the back on the same potions as my own horns. His arms had three sharp claws, his wings (measured about 7 feet long) had black flaps bearing purple and red markings the end of his tail bared a silver cubic, pyramid-like spike that concealed the tip that measured about a foot and half long and a foot wide and was divided into four sections along the sides.

“I see you got my message, Noir.” Dread said as he gave me that malicious smile full of sharp silver fangs.

“Dread.” I glared when I said his name.

“I see you got the last two members. Guess I should introduce them to my own team.” He said before he motioned to the five beside him, each one responding to hearing their names. “Ladies, meet Tristone…” Tristone grunted. “Darkwing…” Darkwing prepped her razor-sharp feathered wings. “DarkBlade…” DarkBlade growled at us. “Darkdra…” Darkdra extended his neck a bit. “And Darktillian.” Darktillian gave a sinister grin.

“What? Not gonna say ‘hi’, Pinkie?” DarkBlade sourly asked to her cheerful opposite.

“I say ‘hi’ to a lot of ponies, but I wouldn’t waste one on you.” Pinkie told her, giving a stern look. “Not really much point to it because you’re too much of a sourpuss to even say ‘hi’ back. You’re also a really big party-pooper.”

“Well, it’s like my daddy always said ‘Joy is a pain and depression is the best company’. With that said, I think people would prefer me than some brainless rock farmer.” DarkBlade told her, Pinkie sparking with electricity as she growled at the gloomy pony.

“Hey, Greeny!” Darkwing said, getting my cousins attention. “Hear ya have clothes store. Is that how you make an honest living?”

“Well, of course.” Rarity told her. “The art of fashion is my greatest passion and have done my very best to ensure anypony haves the chance to look fabulous.”

“Yeah, about that, I heard that you made some clothes for Sapphire Shores.” Darkwing smugly said. “While I like the jewels you put on it, I’m surprised nopony told you.”

“Told me what?” Rarity asked with a raised brow.

“That the last two decades called, saying they want their style back!” With that and the Shadow Warriors laughing, Rarity growled angrily at the insult she received from the thief.

“So working the weather, huh?” Tristone said to Shield. “And here I thought you couldn’t be less of a wrecker with being on a cloud all day.”

“I still am a wrecker.” Shield told him. “Just because I’ve been busting clouds, doesn’t mean I don’t have what it takes to take you on, Blubberis.”

“The name is ‘Hubris’.” Tristone said while giving a glare.

“Not if you keep sucking that gut in, it’s not.” Shield said, making Tristone growl.

“Hear ya working at some old farm and selling some country food.” Sly said with a smug. “Still the same old country bumpkin I remember, now even more of a loser by being at the only place where you can’t do any magic.”

“I don’t need magic to lend a hoof ‘round Sweet Apple Acres.” Dog said to him with a glare. “And at least I give honest truth for more than myself, ya no good, lyin’ snake!”

“So everypony knows you’re Posidacus now, huh?” Dander said to Leon, speaking rudely. “Guess every mare will now want to date a worthless loser like you, huh, Leon?”

“Yeah, but I’m turning them down.” Leon told him, not fazed by the insult. “Right now, I’m going to be a one mare guy.”

“Bet that loser talk for ‘even with all the fame, I still can’t get a date with a hot mare’.” Dander said.

“You would know, considering nopony would want to date with the biggest jerk in all of Equestria.” Leon retorted back.

“Okay, that’s enough talk.” Dread said before Dander could say anything back. “Let’s get down to business.”

“You got a lot of nerve coming here, Dread. Especially with an army like this.” I said to the Dargon. “Yet I’m still wondering why you chose now of all days to attack us.”

“I have my reasons.” Dread told me before he looked around Ponyville. “I see that we don’t have much of an audience around here.”

“We evacuated everypony before you all got here.” I told him. “Which means nopony will get caught in any elemental crossfire.”

“When you say ‘everypony’, does that mean the other Elements of Harmony as well?” Dread said, making me flinch a little. “I know that Air and Lightning over there are the mares who wield the Elements of Generosity and Laughter.” As he continued, my fellow stallions flinched a little as well from hearing the mention of each Element of Harmony wielded by the mare for who they resided with. “Honestly, I wanted to meet the ones who use the Elements of Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness, and Magic.” I dug my claws into the ground from hearing Dread speak the name of Twilight’s Element. “Speaking of Elements, congrats on becoming the new seventh Element. Your father must be so proud. Well, maybe he would be, if he was still alive.”

“So you know about me being an Element of Harmony.” I said to him, keeping my serious expression while controlling the anger I received from hearing that talk about my father. “Did you read it in Equestria Daily?”

“Oh, we knew long before that newspaper added that story to their columns.” Dread told me. “I’ve had some soldiers of mine keep an eye on you, which is how I knew about you living in this dead-end town. Seeing how you’ve been here for a whole year, I wanted to see what these ponies had to make somepony from Canterlot come all the way here. Maybe after we’re done with you, we’ll go on and great the ponies.”

“If you want the townsfolk, you’ll have to get through us first!” I told him, my fellow elementals and I ready to stand our ground.

“Still stubborn to fighting for the weak like always.” Dread said to me. “Very well then. But I’m afraid you’re the ones who’ll have to get to us before this fight truly begins.” With a snap of his claws, the army of Shadow Warriors moved forward to where the Dark Gang were now amongst them. “If you want to stop us, you’ll have to get through the Shadow Warriors who all trained for this very moment first!”

“If that is what will take to protect everypony from you, then that’s what we’ll do.” I said as my team and I were ready to fight.

“Shadow Warriors, attack!” Dread ordered, all the Shadow Warriors beginning their charge at us and coming from all sides.

Though this was different from the many battles me and the guys had while we were the Element Squad, but this might have been just Dread trying to wear us down to give himself and the Dark Gang an advantage in the fight. Seeing these were Shadow Warriors, I didn’t use my color power and was going to save it for when I went against that Dargon. While an army like this would have taken the Element Squad most of the day we had left to take them down, I estimated we would only need half that time as a complete Element Gang.

Dread’s view

Watching the Element Gang fighting my army surrounding them, I kept my smile as my backup plan was now working. I’m almost impressed that I managed to make it work, especially considering I came up with it on the spot. While I did expect Dusk to evacuate this town, I’ll admit he caught me by surprise a bit by sending the other Elements away with those other ponies. Considering they worked with those six, I thought the four would be just as stubborn as that red rat and stick around to help with the fight. Seeing they weren’t here, it appears now I will need to give my greatest asset a new order. Slithering my way over to the cage, I looked at the white stallion who glared at me from behind the bars.

“What? Already going to send me against my bro?” he asked me with a sour tone.

“Actually there’s been a change of plans.” I said as I pulled out the activation switch for the control chips. “I have a new mission for you.”

“What?” He said before I pushed the button, activating the control chips and making the symbiote take control over him.

Take a step back as the white rat screamed, I watched as the cage began to shake as the scream turned into a roar. After the cage stopped shaking, I put the remote away and motioned for the Shadow Warriors guarding it to open the door. Seeing my symbiotic warrior walking up to stand at the doorway, the light only revealing his large white claws while the rest of him was concealed in shadow. Seeing him look past me with a growl, I then went on to keep him from trying to pounce at the rat.

“I know you want to fight him, but I’m afraid you’ll have to wait before I give you that chance.” I said before I began to use my magic. “I have a task for you to do.” After summoning them, I then held up the pictures of the Wielders absent from the battle and allowed my soldier to gaze upon them with his piercing red eyes. “Find these four and bring them to me, dead or alive.” With that, I then made the photos disappear and pointed to the area behind the Element Gang and outside of town. “Head out there to begin your search and stay out of sight of the Element Gang. That’s an order.”

With that, I then watched as my soldier then went off in the direction I sent him to, moving around the battle to avoid any detection from the Element Gang. With all this set in motion, I couldn’t wait to see the looks on that rat’s face when he discovers what I now have in store for him.

Twilight’s view

As we stood with the crowd of evacuated townsponies, me and the rest of the girls walked amongst them with depressed looks. Mine was the most for I was now without Dusk. I wanted to be there with him. I was wishing he would come back to me safely. When everpony had stop and looked back to Ponyville, I looked back to see there was an explosion. I was beginning to worry. If the Element Gang weren’t able to beat them, then I would never see Dusk again. I knew he told me to stay with the group, but I didn’t want to lose Dusk. I then began to run back to Ponyville. This didn’t go unnoticed as my friends came over to me with concern.

“Twilight, where are you going?” Spike asked me as I stopped and turned to see him run over to me.

“I’m going back to Ponyville.” I told him.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” She said to me with a raised brow. “You’re actually thinking of getting into that fight?”

“Twilight, you can’t.” Fluttershy said with a worried look on her face as I turned around to see her and Applejack walk over to me.

“She’s right, Twi.” Applejack put in. “As much as we all want to head back, Dusk told us to stay here and watch over everypony.”

“I don’t care!” I told them all. “I know it’s crazy and a great risk, but I can’t just stand by and let so many ponies put their lives on the line like that, especially Dusk. He is one of the most important ponies in my life and I’m not gonna lose him. I’m going to save him and I’m not gonna let anything stop me.”

“Watch out!” Rainbow said as she pushed me to the side, where I then looked to see a couple of these odd white tentacles right where I was standing.

As everypony else joined us, we all watched as the tentacles retracted into the shadows sent by a couple of trees, a set of glowing red eyes soon appearing in the form of a glare. Watching in horror, we all saw the owner of the eyes step out of the shadows and the light revealed him, the ground shaking a bit with every step he took. What we saw was a large, white pony who was tall enough to lock eyes with Princess Celestia. He was covered in black, vein-like lines around his body with a large concentration of them on his chest, his forehooves were a pair of five-digit claws like Dusk, his face was covered in this black mask, and his mouth was nothing but a maw full of black fangs. If he had wings and two more horns, he would have looked like a white-colored Diablo Nightfall.

“What is that?” Rainbow asked as the pony growled at us.

“I’m only taking a guess,” I spoke up, “but I would have to say that is the Anti-Dragon.” The Anti-Dragon then roared after I said his name, opening its maw that was glowing in red light.

“What is he doing here?” Fluttershy asked with fear.

“Yeah, wasn’t this thing meant for Dusk?” Applejack asked, just as confused as I was.

“Maybe Dread sent him to track us down.” I said, creating a hypothesis. “Maybe he’s here to catch the townsfolk, use them as hostages.”

“Ya think he really sent him out here to do that?” Applejack asked me.

“I’m not really sure. It’s just a guess.” I answered. “But, whether it is correct or not, we can’t let him near anypony.”

“Then how about we show this guy what we ponies can do?” Rainbow said, readying herself to fight.

“Spike, Fluttershy, take Ophelia and keep her safe.” I said as I gave the little Hoothoot to my dragon assistant.

“Okay.” Spike said before he took Ophelia and he along with Fluttershy joined the crowd of ponies behind us.

“Be careful not to hurt him.” I said to the three ponies with me as we stood between the monstrous pony and everypony from Ponyville. “Remember, that’s still Dusk’s brother in there. He’s not in control of himself.”

“That’s gonna be a problem, Twi.” Rainbow told me. “ʹCause he doesn’t look he haves a problem hurting us.”

With that, the three of us charged at him, ready to fight with all that we had to protect everypony. With this, I also hoped that we could be able to help Dusk and the others before it was too late.

Dusk’s view

After managing to defeat about a good quarter of the soldiers, the team and I were more than ready to keep on fighting until…

“Halt!” Dread spoke out, making the Shadow Warriors stop attacking us as we all looked to him and the Dark Gang walk over to us. “That’s enough. We’ll take it from here.”

“Finally gonna take this seriously?” Shield spoke up, confidently.

“Hold on, we barely even taken down half of the army.” I said, speaking to my fellow elementals. “Why is he calling them off for?”

“Uh, guys?” Leon said before he pointed forward with shock. “Isn’t that the Anti-Dragon’s cage over there?”

Looking beyond the Dark Gang, we were all shocked to discover he was right as the very cage used to hold Husk when the Anti-Dragon wasn’t being called on, the barred door lifted open and the very container only filled with darkness.

“Husk’s gone!” I said as I was shocked in fear before looking towards the smug Dargon. “Dread, what did you do with my brother?”

“Oh, nothing. Just have him making sure everypony was in on the fun.” Dread proudly told me. “While the Shadow Warriors kept you busy, I sent the Anti-Dragon out to find the rest of your team, the very mares who you decided to prevent us from meeting. Though, if they resist… I’m afraid my pet will have to get a little rough bringing them here.”

Hearing that, we all gasped in shock that Dread sent the Anti-Dragon after Twilight and the others. While those girls could handle themselves, the Anti-Dragon was way beyond facing Diamond Dogs or even Paraserpents. The horror I felt that Twilight was now in grave danger caused me to turn around and fly off towards the evacuate townsfolk, to my beloved girlfriend.

“Twilight!” I said before Dread teleported in front of me and punched me right back to the ground.

“Dusk, you okay?” Shield said with concern as he helped me back up.

“I’m fine.” I said before Dread landed in front of me. “Get out my way, Dread!”

“Sorry, Dusk.” Dread said as we then watched the rest of the Dark Gang join him, blocking our way to Twilight and everypony else as much as the Shadow Warriors behind us. “But, if you want to save your friends, you’ll have to beat us first!”

“Dread, you son of a witch!” I cursed at him. “You’re going to regret bringing Twilight into this!”

“Oh, I see I touched a nerve.” Dread said with a chuckle. “If you’re so determined to save those ponies, then prove it.

“Fine!” I said before I gave out the call to my team. “Element Gang, let the elements strike!”

“Dark Gang, attack!” With that, the twelve of us elementals charged at each other, each of us engaging battle with the very foe of the same element.

Twilight’s view

With Spike, Ophelia, Fluttershy, and the townsponies as our witnesses, me, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash fought back against the Anti-Dragon, the servant of the Dark Gang transforming his right arm into a series of tentacles he tried to use against us. Though we tried our hardest and were able to avoid most of his attacks, we couldn’t even get close to him without being struck by those tentacles. I tried to use my magic on him, but he managed to avoid and even overpowered the spells I cast. After a while, he soon managed to get the upper hoof and pushed all three of us over to everypony.

“It’s no use.” Applejack said as the Anti-Dragon stood there with a look of rage. “He’s too strong!”

“We can’t even get a hit on him!” Rainbow added.

“Don’t give up!” I told them as I got back up on my hooves. “We have to keep him from everypony!” I rushed at the Anti-Dragon one more time, but was soon caught in his tentacles and held within a vice grip.

“Twilight!” I heard my friends yell out in fear before then tentacles moved from the Anti-Dragon’s arm and onto his back, his arm turning back to normal before he slowly started walking towards them.

Dusk’s view

As we began to fight with the Dark Gang, my team and I experienced one epic battle as we all gave everything we had in trying to defeat these villains, myself being driven to be able to go to Twilight’s side and protect her from the Anti-Dragon. Though we were trying our hardest, it seemed the Dark Gang had the upper hoof and were beginning to overpower us. Dread even managed to counteract my color magic.

“Still fighting with those old wounds, Dusk?” Dread cockily asked me before he then got me in a headlock. “A new battlefield, only with you in a losing battle, Noir.” Breaking out of the headlock, I tried to fight him, but he managed to overpower me and knock me away. “Not like I really expected a weakling like you to do better than this.” I tried to get up, but Dargon had already shot a fire blast at me.

After being sent farther away from him, I looked around and saw my fellow elementals weren’t having better luck as they were being overmatched by the tactics and fighting styles of their villainous counterparts.

“Is that really all you got?” Dread said as I struggled to get back up. “You can’t beat me to try and save four mares! How do you expect a rat like has any chance in protecting anypony else if you can’t save yourself?” Quickly slithering over to me, Dread pulled me up in a chokehold. “Now you see how helpless you are?” With that, he then tossed me away before he began to slither over to me. “I told you before that this is the only way your story ends. Now you won’t just die as the last of your lineage, but also as the only Element wielder who barely made a name for himself.” Dread continued as I slowly got back to my hooves and claws. “This is how it was always going to be: you being at my mercy as everything comes crumbling down. You lose your team, your home, and your friends lose to my Anti-Dragon.”

Twilight’s view

But, just when he was halfway to them, a mysterious pink wind came up from out of nowhere, causing the Anti-Dragon to grip at the ground. As he was gripping the ground, I watched as small sparks of explosions appear on his body that caused him to grunt in pain. After a while of trying to endure it, the Anti-Dragon soon gave in and let of the ground, allowing himself to be blown away from the wind. His tentacles relieving themselves from me, I thought I was going to be blown away with him, but was surprised when I felt something had caught me. After seeing the Anti-Dragon lying on the ground a good distance away and groaning as he recovered, I looked towards what had caught me and saw it was this mysterious creature.

After a moment of it staring at the Anti-Dragon, the creature soon brought me back to my friends and put me gently back down on the ground where all my friends gathered around as they spoke out their concerns. After telling them I was fine, I then turned around and looked upon the creature who saved me as it gazed upon me with its small blue eyes. It appeared to be a bipedal rooster, but was void of legs with only a couple of orange projections in their place. Its body was black, it had a large, plume on its head, and half of what appeared to be a yellow shell on its arms. It was almost as tall as Princess Celestia, at least to where I was seeing it, as it floated in front of us all. A moment of it floating there, we all watched as it turned around and gazed upon me with its small blue eyes that had yellow markings behind them. Needless to say, I was in awe for I believed this creature was magnificent. I wasn’t the only one who thought this as I saw everyone else with the same expression.

“Thank you for saving me.” I said to it with an honest smile of gratitude.

From there, we then watched as it held up its two pincer-like hands which possessed these four white objects. A brief moment after it did, the objects gave off these different colored lights and the creature let go of them before each floated over to me along with Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy. Looking upon them as the light became less bright, I saw they were these odd, white bracelets that were embedded with these diamond-shaped crystals, each with its own unique color and a small crystal slate aligned to the center. The bracelet in front of me possessed a crystal the same color as my coat with a slate shaped like a star, like the one represented by my cutie mark; Applejack’s crystal was green and had a slate shaped like an apple; the bracelet Rainbow received had a red crystal with lightning bolt-shaped slate; and Fluttershy’s bracelet had a pink crystal with a butterfly-shaped slate.

“What’s this?” I said as I gazed upon the bracelet before me just when the creature gave an encouraging trill before nodding.

Seeing this as its way of saying it wanted us to take these bracelets, I then looked to the girls as they all looked upon for an answer. With a nod to them, the four of us then took the bracelets and placed them on our forelegs. After doing so, the crystals shined brightly in a dazzling light for a moment before they stopped. Hearing a roar, we all watched as the creature then floated aside to reveal the now recovered Anti-Dragon as he charged right at us at high speed. While I tried to figure out on what we should do, it was in that moment Fluttershy screamed, her voice suddenly becoming so loud that it had enough force to push the Anti-Dragon back before he got too close and sent him skidding across the ground. After she stopped screaming and me, Rainbow, and Applejack recovered from hearing that loud scream, we all looked at Fluttershy with shock at what she had done.

“Whoa! Fluttershy, that was awesome!” Rainbow said with an impressed smile. “How’d you do that?”

“I… I don’t know.” Fluttershy said, just as surprised as the rest of us.

Looking over, I saw the crystal on her bracelet was glowing in a light that soon faded away before I then looked towards the odd bracelet I had received, pondering on if these bracelets were responsible for how Fluttershy was able to scream with such force. Looking at the Anti-Dragon with a serious glare, I then motioned my left foreleg forward at him to test my theory, the crystal starting to glow like Fluttershy’s. It was only a moment until the crystal fired a violet blast of energy right at the Anti-Dragon, the monster unable to stop himself in time before the blast made contact and sent him rolling across the ground.

“Whoa!” Spike said with an impressed smile. “I’m not much for fashion, but that bracelet is awesome!”

“I think I get it now.” I said before I spoke to everypony. “Whatever these bracelets are, they seem to have some sort of magic that grants us some new abilities.”

“You mean these things are giving us superpowers?” Rainbow said. “Awesome!”

Hearing a roar, we all looked to the Anti-Dragon as he got back up and charged right at us.

“Come on, girls!” I said, my hope now reignited. “Let’s stop this monster before he hurts anypony!”

“Right there with ya!” Rainbow said before she rushed right for the Anti-Dragon, her crystal suddenly glowing before she rolled up and began to spin, soon being surrounded in a sphere of red and cyan light.

Crashing into him, the force of the impact bounced Rainbow back to us and knocked the Anti-Dragon away, the sphere disappearing as Rainbow landed in front of us flat on her stomach.

“Ya okay, Rainbow?” Applejack asked as Rainbow picked herself up.

“I’m fine.” She told us. “Wasn’t expecting that.”

“Incoming!” Spike yelled before we all jumped away as Anti-Dragon tried to pounce us.

“Okay, ya varmint!” Applejack said as the Anti-Dragon turned to face her. “Ya ain’t lay a single claw on anypony, ya hear?”

With a point of her hoof, her crystal started glowing and her hoof became surrounded in a magical aura of the same color. When she pointed it towards him, some sort of green whip shot from her hoof and wrapped around the Anti-Dragon’s throat. With the monster roaring out as he thrashed around, Applejack was pulled around by the whip for a moment before she managed to get on the ground and jump over to him, getting on the Anti-Dragon’s back.

“Yee-haw! Now this is what I call bronc-ridin’!” Applejack cheered out as the Anti-Dragon tried to knock her off his back.

Applejack soon jumped off when Rainbow Dash came in within that sphere again and rammed into his side, the pegasus landing right on her hooves as the Anti-Dragon was knocked into a tree.

“Keep it up, girls! We almost got him!” I told my friends.

“Hey, what is that?” Applejack asked before I looked over and saw the Anti-Dragon’s body beginning to ripple as he struggle to get up. When I saw his shoulder glowing red, I looked at it and soon saw this red, heart-shaped metal chip sticking out of it.

“That must be one of the control chips Dusk was talking about.” I said, realizing what it was. “All the hits he took must have uncovered it. I wonder…” To test my new hypothesis, I then turned to Applejack. “Applejack, think you can pull that chip off him?”

“I’ll try.” Applejack said before she used her new whip to grab it just before it was completely covered.

After we helped her pull after seeing her have trouble, the four of us managed to pull the chip right out of the Anti-Dragon, said object landing right in front of us with a few black limitations on the sides. Grabbing it with my magic and holding it in front of me, we watched as the Anti-Dragon roared while his body was covered in an erratic pattern of ripples. After a moment of this, his face split apart like a blooming flower, revealing the face of a white stallion who looked like Dusk, said stallion having his eyes closed and gritting his teeth like he was in a great struggle.

“Who’s that?” Fluttershy asked as we were all shocked by this.

“That must be Husk!” I said before the stallion opened his eyes right before the strands of white covered his face and morphed into the roaring Anti-Dragon.

“What the hay just happened?” Applejack asked.

“When we removed the control chip, it must’ve allowed Husk to gain some control over the Anti-Dragon.” I said before I saw a few red lights moving around within the monster. “Look! There are three other chips in him! If we remove them, we might be able to free Husk from Dread’s control!”

Looking back at the Anti-Dragon as his body returned to normal and he turned to us, Rainbow then spoke up.

“Then what are we waiting for?” She said. “Let’s get those chips!”

“Right! Spike!” I said as I then gave the chip to Spike. “Hold this!” With the chip out of the way, I then got ready with the girls to go after the rest of the control chips. “Okay, girls. Hit the Anti-Dragon as hard as you can to try and force out the chips. While he is recovering, find the chip and get it off him quick before he fully recovers!”

With that, we then continued on with our attacks. Thanks to the new abilities gifted to us by the bracelets, we were able to land a few hits and do enough damaged to uncover more of the control chips, taking them out one-by-one. When his body began to ripple, that was when we knew we could remove one of the chips.

With the first chip appearing on his tail, Fluttershy was the first to get it by grabbing onto his tail.

“Um… excuse me?” She said as he got his attention, giving the Anti-Dragon a nervous smile. “Sorry, I hope you don’t mind if I take this chip off you.”

In that instant, Fluttershy held onto the control chip as the Anti-Dragon started to swing his tail around to try and shake her off. When he did, Fluttershy managed to use the force of his swing to pull the chip right off.

“I got one!” Fluttershy said as she held up the chip before bringing over and giving it to Spike.

“Good job, Fluttershy!” I told her as the Anti-Dragon roared out like before. “Two down, two to go!”

With this, I then watched as the Anti-Dragon’s groaned a bit before he looked at me with a pleading look.

“Help… me…” He said, speaking with a slightly distorted voice before he roared out.

“Don’t worry, Husk! We’ll save you!” I said before we then continued the attacks to force the third chip out, knowing our efforts in freeing him were working. It was only a moment after before Rainbow Dash spoke up.

“There’s Number Three!” She told me before she rammed the Anti-Dragon to the ground and pulled the chip off with her teeth. “Got it!”

“Great, Rainbow!” I told her, the pegasus giving the third chip to Spike. “Just one more and we’re done!”

Looking back at the Anti-Dragon as he faced me, I watched as he panted like he was out of breath while struggling to lift his right claw.

“Hey, what’s he doin’?” Applejack asked as we were all wondering the same thing.

“He’s trying to tell us something!” Rainbow said, making the same guess I was.

“What is he pointing to?” Fluttershy asked as Husk pointed to the center of his chest.

“That must be where the last control chip is!” I said before Husk abruptly put his claw down as the Anti-Dragon took over him. “Aim for his chest! Let’s get that chip out of him!”

With that, we then hit the Anti-Dragon with a barrage of attacks, all aimed at the center of his chest. Finishing it with a single blast from my bracelet, I then looked and saw the last control chip right where Husk said it was.

“The last chip!” With that, I then used my magic to grab the chip. After a moment of pulling, I managed to extract the chip and cause the Anti-Dragon to roar out. “That’s all of them!”

After removing that last chip, we watched as Anti-Dragon clutched his head in both claws, getting on his legs for a brief moment before he went back on all fours and stood there while both having his eyes closed and heavy breathing.

“Husk? Husk Noir?” I asked, hoping that he was no longer under the control of the symbiote.

Dusk’s view

It was trouble for us back in Ponyville. Darktillian had Leon pinned, Tristone was barraging Shield with rock slates, Darkdra had a spear of ice ready to smite Dog, and DarkBlade and Darkwing kept on beating up Rarity and Pinkie. The Dargon Dread even got me pinned to the wall and got ready to finish me off.

“Finally, you will be eliminated. Goodbye, El Dragon!”Dread said as he was ready to strike.

But, before his claws touched my skin, I watched as something small and white rapidly circled around his head. This caused Dread to let go of me as he backed away to try and wave away whatever was circling his head. After managing to catch my breath and getting back up, I looked over and watched as the white blur revealed itself to be Ophelia, my little Hoothoot pecking at Dread.

“Ophelia?” I asked, surprised to see my beloved pet as she pecked at the Dargon.

“Get off me, you crazy bird!” Dread said before multiple white tendrils appear and wrap around him, steam coming off from underneath as Dread roared out in pain and Ophelia stopped her assault.

After a brief moment of this, the tendrils lifted him up into the air and then tossed him, the villain sent rolling down on the ground until he stopped a few feet away from me. With Ophelia coming over to me, I thought the surprises were over until…

“Stay away from my brother!” Said an unexpected voice as Dread pulled himself off the ground, the Dargon soon becoming just as surprised as I was at the sight of who spoke.

There, standing right in front of me and glaring down at Dread, was the very being the Dargon created to destroy me: the Anti-Dragon. Hearing him talk like that, I was even more surprised to discover that it wasn’t the savage beast to which Dread held the leash to. Truly, this was the person who was trapped inside the monster: my brother Husk Noir.

“Husk?” I asked, wanting to confirm my suspicion. “Is that you?”

It was then that the Anti-Dragon turned his head to me as part of his face molded itself away to reveal the smiling face of my brother underneath as he said “Yeah, it’s me, bro. Long time no see.”

“So you finally built enough resistance to gain control.” Dread said with a smug before he pulled out the remote detonator switch he used to control the symbiote. “No matter. I will simply increase the control output and put you back in your place.” With that, he then pushed the button. But—unlike before—my brother didn’t scream out, only stood there with a glare towards Dread. Seeing this, Dread lost his smug and pushed the button again and nothing happened. He then pushed the button multiple times out of frustration that had no results of the symbiote taking back control. “What? What’s going on? Why isn’t the remote working?”

“That’s because you have no control over him anymore.” Hearing the very voice that makes my heart flutter, I turned to my right and saw Twilight standing there with a serious expression upon her face.

“Twilight?” I said in surprise, not expecting my girlfriend to be here as much as my pet.

“The Wielder of Magic.” Dread said as he glared at her. “I suspect you have something to do with the chips’ malfunction?”

“Oh, you mean these?” Twilight said as she held up four pentagonal computer chips with her magic, objects of which shocked Dread.

“The control chips!” the Dargon said in disbelief. “But… how? How could you remove them? I had those chips buried under layers of symbiote!”

“It was a bit hard, I’ll admit.” Twilight said to him. “But, after removing those layers, it was only easy to extract them.”

“Impossible! Shredding the symbiotic layers means you’ve actually managed to combat against the Anti-Dragon. I’ve specifically designed it to be the perfect countermeasure against any Fire Dragon! Nopony can overcome that kind of power, especially for a weakling unicorn such as yourself.”

“Well, I had a little help.” Twilight said before a red and cyan blur flew right past her and slammed into Tristone, knocking the evil earth elemental away. The blur was soon revealed to Rainbow Dash as she lend a helping hoof to Shield.

“Dash!” Shield said with surprise. “Thanks for the save!”

“No problem.” Rainbow said to him. “Besides, we can’t let you have all the fun.”

“Ow!” Darktillian said after a flower pot dropped on his head, looking above to see Fluttershy cower a bit from Darktillian’s glare.

It was at that moment that Darktillian was blast away with a stream of water. After that, I watched Leon look up and smile at Fluttershy, giving her a silent ‘thank you’. With Fluttershy returning the smile, Leon then went on to continue his fight with his Dark Gang counterpart.

I looked to Darkdra and he was about to end Dog, but a green glowing lasso came in and took his spear. That lasso came from Applejack who used it to send the spear back to Darkdra. Darkdra managed to dodge his own spear, but left himself open as he was kicked away in the nose by Applejack. With that, Applejack then went on to help Dog up to his hooves as he woke up.

With DarkBlade and Darkwing, they got ready to finish off Pinkie and Rarity. But, before they could do it though, they felt and smelt something burning behind them. They looked behind them to find their tails were on fire. When they screamed, I looked to see that Spike was there with a smug look on him.

“This doesn’t make any sense!” Dread exclaimed in disbelief. “What in Hades is going—Aaah!” Before he could even finish that question, a violet blast of energy came in and knocked him to the ground.

Recovering with a chest emanating smoke, Dread then looked up and towards my girlfriend before his eyes widened with shock. Looking towards her myself, I was surprised to find that Twilight’s horn wasn’t glowing, instead it was this white, stone ring with a hexagonal bridge. On the face of the bridge was this violet, diamond-shaped crystal with a crystal plate that was shaped like the Twilight’s cutie mark on top of it. I just couldn’t believe my eyes to see my girlfriend in possession of a Z-Ring and a Z-Crystal!

“That’s for what you did to my boyfriend.” Twilight said to him with a glare.

“What in Equus?” Dread said in disbelief.

“Like my new bracelet? While I don’t usually accessorize, I think it works well for me. It definitely worked to help me and my friends free Husk from your control.”

Hearing the sound of yelping, I looked to the roofs and saw Fluttershy being chased by a couple of Pegasus Shadow Warriors. While she managed to dodge most of them, she eventually got cornered. Just when they were going to attack her, a bright pink glow suddenly appeared and—at that moment—she screamed out, her voice so loud that it send the Shadow Warriors flying right into a wall and knocked all of them unconscious. As Fluttershy apologized to them, I then looked to her left hoof and saw she was wearing a Z-Ring with a pink Z-crystal like Twilights, only the plate was shaped like her butterfly cutie mark.

“Shadow Warriors, take care of that cowpony!” Darkdra said as I looked over to see him fighting against Dog. “This is between you and me, Fries!”

“Fine by me.” Dog confidently said. “AJ already took on a few Paraserpents. A couple of Shadow Warriors ain’t nothin’ to her.”

As the two ice elementals clashed, I looked to Applejack and saw her holding her own against the five Shadow Warriors put against her. While the three unicorn Shadow Warriors tried to blast her with their magic and the two Earth pony Shadow Warriors tried to strike at her with their weapons, Applejack was able to dodge them with ease.

“Gotta try a lot harder than that if ya ever gonna beat me!” Applejack said before a green glow appeared on her right hoof, revealing a Z-Ring with a green Z-Crystal that bare a plate shaped like her cutie mark.

At that moment, she lift up that same hoof as it was covered in an aura of the same color before a line of that energy shot up into the air. As she began spinning her hoof around, the line bent until it turned into a hoop, turning into some kind of energy lasso. While surprised by this, Applejack gained a confident smile as she then used the lasso to grab one of the unicorn Shadow Warriors by his horn, pulling him into the air and swinging him into the two weapon wielders along with send all three of them right into the fountain and leaving them daze in the water. Retracting it, the lasso then changed into an energy whip before she began her fight with the remaining Shadow Warriors. After managing to dodge their magic blasts, she used her whip to grab one of the Shadow Warriors by the foreleg before lifting them up and then slamming them into their associate, knocking both of them unconscious. After she landed, I saw she had a Z-Ring of her own baring a green Z-Crystal that had an apple-shape plate over its center.

“Having your little girlfriend take up most of the fighting with the Shadow Warriors while you only fight me?” Hubris smugly said as he clashed horns and hooves with Shield. “You really have gone soft if you’re gonna leave it all to a mare!”

“She’s not my girlfriend.” Shield told him as the two continued to fight. “And I wouldn’t be making fun of Dash like that. She’s one of the best fliers I have ever seen and one of the best fighters in Equestria! She can kick your tail pretty easy, so a couple of Shadow Warriors are nothing compared to what she’s dealt with.”

Looking to the sky, I saw that Shield was correct as the pegasus managed to defeat multiple Shadow Warriors that tried to fight here, both pegasus that flew over and Earth ponies who tried to jump at her from the rooftops. Using a combination of her ability to fly and hoof-to-hoof combat, she managed to knock down her opponents to the ground. With one group of pegasi Shadow Warriors that were charging at her, she flew right at them. Before she reached halfway to them, she brought her hooves together which caused a red light to appear. Before long, she began to spin forward and was soon surrounded in a sphere of red. Now as a ball of red and cyan, Rainbow kept on going towards the Shadow Warriors who all stopped in shock from seeing this. Before they could even dodge, Rainbow rammed right into them, striking them all down like bowling pins. A brief moment after, Rainbow stopped spinning and hovered while smiling down at the sight of the unconscious Shadow Warriors on the ground.

As Rainbow reveled in her victory, I then looked to her left hoof and saw she also had a Z-Ring on her, this one baring a red Z-crystal with had lightning-bolt plate aligned in the same position as the other Z-Crystals. With seeing this, I was put into more shock and awe than I had ever felt before. The four mares who wielded the Elements of Loyalty, Honesty, Kindness, and Magic were now in possession of Z-Rings and Z-Crystals? I was absolutely speechless because I couldn’t see how it was possible.

“And just when I thought you couldn’t be more of a pest!” Dread said as he glared at me and Twilight. “First, you wielders appear, then the Element Gang becomes complete, then that rat becomes one of you, and now you have Z-Power and turned my own creation against me? My intel didn’t tell me about this!” Though I was surprised by what he said, I managed to give him a glare as I saw what all this was about.

“Now I get it.” I said as I finally pieced together what Dread’s true plan was. “You’ve had scouts here even before me and the guys got here, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.” Dread angrily confirmed. “After I heard about the Elements of Harmony returning, I had sent a spy out to keep an eye on the six responsible for reawakening that power.”

“So you knew about us this whole time!” Twilight spoke up as she understood what was being said. “Did you plan this attack after you found out the girls and I were living here?”

“I did plan on strike against you, but I had to make it bigger after I found out that the Element Squad moved in.” Dread told her. “The Elements of Harmony are supposedly the most powerful magic in all of Equestria, possibly even in Equus. But I’ve come to see them as only tools, tools of soldiers who fight at the behest of others. Those who wield them are servants of the power, not the masters. That fact has already been proven when the latest Element that enhances their power became connected to this pathetic excuse of an elemental.” He pointed to me with that last part. “As such, unless I can use that power myself, the Elements are nothing but worthless totems to me! But, as long as that power exists, there will always be someone to get in the way of my plans. Even after Dusk and his Element Squad friends moved in here, my plan was always to get rid of you so the Elements could be rendered powerless. Without them, then everyone would finally accept that what I have been working towards cannot be denied. Considering most of you wielders were nothing more than a couple of weakling mares that were only lucky to have two elementals amongst them, it would be easy to destroy you. I was even going to be patient until my soldiers were ready to strike at a normal pace. But, when I found out the rat who had been the greatest nuisance to my plans was some new wielder who was responsible for the downfall of both Discord and Nightmare Moon, I had to ensure that I could execute this plan before this got any worse!”

“So you were taking precautions in case the Elements of Harmony became a force against you.” I said before I chuckled with a surprised smug. “Wow. To think that all it took to rattle a Dargon to this extreme was me becoming an Element of Harmony.”

Husk laughed at this. “Good one, Dusk!”

“I am not rattled!” Dread exclaimed. “And I refuse to be beaten by a group of weaklings and their worthless pony friends! I don’t care what other tricks you have, I will destroy you!” With that, he then spoke out to his minions. “Shadow Warriors! Dark Gang! CRUSH THEM!

“Ready for this, Ms. Sparkle?” I asked my girlfriend with a confident smile.

“With you, I’m always ready.” She said as she returned it.

“Well, then… Element Gang?” I said, calling out for my team to hear. “Let the elements strike!”

From there, we all then began to work together as we fought Dread and his army. Though we were greatly outnumbered, we all managed to hold out strong and were able to get the advantage. With the girls and Husk who now had control of the Anti-Dragon taking on the Shadow Warriors while my fellow elementals and I took on our villainous counterparts, this became one epic battle. The girls really held up their own in this fight. I even saw Fluttershy’s warrior spirit. With all our combined efforts, we managed to defeat the army of Shadow Warriors and push back the Dark Gang. As our enemies stood up while looking worse for wear amongst their unconscious army, my team and I a good three yards from them as we were ready to finish this battle, both elementals and wielders that make up the Element Gang.

“How do you like that, Dargon?” Twilight said to my surprise, causing me to smile as it seemed like my confidence rubbed off on her. “Think you can handle another fight?”

“Grrr! Don’t think you’ve won yet!” Dread growled. “I still have one last trick up my sleeve!”

With that, we then watched as his horn started glowing with dark magic before Husk was suddenly teleported away from us and behind Dread.

“What the…?” was all Husk was able to say before Dread thrust a claw on his chest, slightly pushing him back.

From there, we then watched as this purple crystal (no doubt placed there by Dread) started glowing and some of the black present on the symbiote morphed and took the shape of an objected shaped like a six-legged starfish that possessed this six red, eye-shaped markings with one at the center of each segment.

“What… what is this?” Husk asked in shock.

“My one last task for the Anti-Dragon to fulfill.” Dread said to him. “I knew someday my own creation would be turned against me, so I designed a little failsafe.”

“Dread, what did you do?” I said, making the Dargon turn to the rest of the group and I.

“One last act to get rid of you once and for all.” Dread told us. “I set the symbiote to self-destruct.”

“You turned the Anti-Dragon into a symbiote bomb?” I gasped in shock.

“That’s right, though this symbiote bomb is different.” Dread said to me. “The catalyst I used for this bomb is a piece of Darkonium.”

“Darkonium?” Twilight asked in confusion.

“The most corruptive element in the entire universe.” I told her.

“You see, in my experiments in creating the symbiote, I made a discovery.” The Dargon explained. “When in direct contact with Darkconium, the symbiote becomes highly unstable and will instantly transform into a symbiote bomb. When I discovered this, the sample that went through this process was unable to withstand the sheer force and power of its own detonation. The explosion that occurred contained so much heat that a normal symbiote wouldn’t be able to survive.”

“That’s why you were only using Husk as the Anti-Dragon’s host.” I said as I realized why Dread didn’t make more of the monster he created. “You used him to make the symbiote resistant to fire!”

“Exactly.” Dread confirmed. “That way, when the symbiote explodes, traces of it will be able to spread and create a new army of Anti-Dragons!”

“Not if I get this thing far enough away to where the symbiote won’t infect anyone!” Husk said before he tried to run, but soon found himself struggling as his limbs didn’t move. “What the…? Why can’t I move?”

“Because the symbiote won’t let you.” Dread said before my brother and I looked down and saw the symbiote on Husk’s hooves and claws turned into tendrils that dug into the ground, like it was a tree rooting itself to the soil. “You see, once in self-destruct, the symbiote roots itself to the area it’s present in so no one can be able to remove them. Now your brother and his friends can try to get you somewhere far away from here, but I highly doubt they’ll be able to get you far enough and escape the blast zone.”

“Blast zone?” Husk asked in shock.

“You see, while testing the explosive properties of the symbiote, I discovered that the blast range increases the more of the symbiote is present. I had to place a small sample of it in a contained area just so I wouldn’t get caught in the blast. In the next fifteen minutes, that symbiote will turn this whole town and everything within ten miles of it into a crater!” As he laughed, we all (except for the Dark Gang) gasped in shock from hearing that, especially when we saw one of the markings start glowing. “With that said, we’ll leave you all to figure things out.” With that, I watched as Dread’s horn started glowing as he got ready to cast a spell.

“Oh, no, you don’t!” Husk said before he sent a couple of tendrils at the Dark Gang, entrapping them and taking them by surprise.

“What? Hey, let go, you fool!” Dread said as he and his minions struggled to get free.

“Not a chance!” Husk said in defiance. “If I’m going down, you’re going down with me!” Just then, the second marking started glowing and—starting from the chest—the symbiote started to slowly change from being black and white to purple and white.

“Well, if that’s how you’re going to be, then try and give your last words.” Dread told him. “You’ve reached the twelve-minute mark and the symbiote will cover you in solidified encasing of itself. Might as well use that smart tongue of yours while you still have it.”

“Only got a few words to say right now.” Husk said before he looked to me. “Bro, use the Element Blast!”

“What?” I asked in shock.

“Use the Element Blast on me and the Dark Gang!” he told me. “That’ll send us far enough away to where Ponyville won’t be caught in the blast zone!”

“But that symbiote is going to explode!” I told him. “It’ll still take you with it!”

“At least I’m making one good sacrifice in my life.”

“Husk, I refuse to let you sacrifice yourself like this!”

“Dusk, it’s the only way!”

“Husk, please! I already lost Dad, I can’t lose you too!”

“Dusk, I don’t want to do this anymore than you do, but we don’t really have much of a choice. If we don’t do this, this town’s going to get vaporized and we’ll be dealing with hordes of Anti-Dragons.” As the symbiote slowly began to cover his head, he then gave me a confident smile. “Don’t worry, it’s fine. Live or die, I’ll be fine as long as my family’s okay, that includes you. So go ahead and do your job. I know you’ll do great as a hero. You got this!” With my brother now fully encase in a symbiote made hard as a rock, I shed a few tears as I knew what I had to do. Even though I didn’t want to do it, I had to respect my brother’s wishes and fulfill my duty as a Fire Dragon.

“Uh… boss?” Hubris said, his worried tone breaking me out of my thoughts. “Don’t you think we should leave?”

“We can’t!” Dread told him. “Not without taking the bomb with us!”

“Guys, get ready!” I told my fellow elementals, surprising them. “It’s time for the Element Blast!”

“Darling, are you sure you want to do this?” Rarity asked me in concern.

“Yeah, if ya’ll don’t want to do this, we can…” Dog said before I interrupted him.

“I’m fine. I’ll be alright.” I told my team. “Let’s stop these villains. For Husk!” With that, Spike and the girls stood behind us as my fellow elementals and I lined up to unleash the Element Gang’s ultimate attack before I spoke to Dread. “Time to send you all packing with that parting gift!”

“We’ll see about that.” Dread said before his horn started glowing again and these six red, circular glyphs appeared in front of him and the Dark Gang, each glyph set in front of each elemental.

“What in Equus?” I asked, surprised by this.

“How you like my new spell?” Dread said to me with confidence. “I call this the ‘Six Paths of Havoc’. These glyphs are special power enhancers that will increase the output of any attack that goes through them up to ten times. Try and beat that for firepower!”

“Give it all you got, Dread!” I told him as we all got ready to deliver our ultimate attacks. “You won’t beat us because you forgot the one thing about us Element Gang!”

“We never give up!” The six of us said at the same time. With that, my fellow elementals and I watched as the Dark Gang began to concentrate their elemental powers to deliver their own Element Blast.

“You guys ready!” I asked my team.

“Ready when you are, cap!” Shield told me.

“Yep!” Dog added.

“Absolutely.” Rarity put in.

“Yes, indeedily!” Pinkie Pie said.

“Mm.” Leon nodded.

“Then let’s do this! Fire!” I said as I sent out a stream of fire.

“Earth!” Shield said then sent a stream of earth and sand.

“Water!” Leon shot a water stream.

“Ice!” Dog shot an ice beam.

“Air!” Rarity shot a wind torrent.

“Lightning!” Pinkie Pie shot an electric volt.

“Fire!” Dread said as he and the Dark Gang fire their elemental blast through the glyphs, the attacks surging with black and red energy that made them more devastating with the dark purple color.

Before they were halfway to each other, the element attacks on both sides spiraled together and created two powerful blasts, mine and the team’s blast being a spiral of fire, earth, water, ice, air, and lightning and the Dark Gang’s being dark purple now with the added red and black from Dread’s spell.

Twilight’s view

Watching the two attacks collide, me, the girls, and Spike watched in awe while the force of the colliding attacks created a converse blast along with a burst of wind. For a moment, Dusk and the others were able to hold their ground while giving everything they had into the attack. But I soon felt despair as the Dark Gang’s attack began to overpower the other, the six elemental heroes beginning to struggle to fight it back.

“It’s not workin’!” Applejack said, sharing the same dread I had.

“The Dark Gang’s attack is too strong!” Rainbow Dash added.

“What do we do?” Fluttershy asked in worry.

Looking over to see the third marking begin to glow and signify there being only nine minutes left before the Anti-Dragon’s detonation, I wasn’t able to see any way we could be able to beat them. I was about to give up hope until… suddenly, a bright light caught my attention. Looking to my hoof, I saw it was the bracelet I had as it gave off a dazzling light. Looking to the girls, I saw they were experiencing the same thing. It took me a moment, but I soon realized that this was a sign, the bracelets’ way of telling us there was a way we could win this. Seeing how they helped us so far, I had no doubt they could help us defeat the Dark Gang. I saw the girls realize this too as we all nodded to each other with serious expressions. With this, we then went right over and joined Dusk and the others. My boyfriend was surprised at first, but he soon saw my answer to this in my expression as he then managed to smile at me, giving his faith in me and the girls to help.

“Okay, girls! All together!” I said before the four of us thrust our accessorized hooves forward, the bracelets giving off bright lights before sending out four beams of violet, red, green, and pink.

Spiraling into the Element Gang’s attack, we all watched as it pushed the villains’ attack bit by bit.

“You can’t beat us!” I said before I gave out a battle cry, my friends doing the same before our attack suddenly thrust right through the Dark Gang’s blast.

The force from it was so great that it canceled the Dark Gang’s attack along with Dread’s spell, leaving the villains open as our blast headed straight for them. In that moment, I watched as the blast then transformed to resemble a dragon with a white head and a body made of rainbow light before it caught the Dark Gang along with Husk and took them all into the air.

No one’s view

As the Element Blast kept carrying them into the air, the Dark Gang screamed out in fear while the symbiote bomb was seconds away before detonation. Before it did, upon reaching the upper atmosphere, the Element Blast exploded. The explosion sent out a rainbow color pulse of energy as the Dark Gang and the entrapped Husk were consumed by a bright flash of light. After the pulse goes over them, the townsponies soon began to run back towards Ponyville, curious as to what was happening to their home.

Dusk’s view

With the attack finished, we all then looked around in awe as it seemed we had won this battle. Before long, we watched as something fell out of the sky and crashed into the ground. As the dust cleared, within the new crater, we saw the Dark Gang with Dread trying to pick himself up while his minions laid their unconscious. In his attempts, I saw him flinch for a brief moment before he then fell flat on the ground. At that moment, all six elementals began to transform back into their normal selves. From fighting these guys for so long, I knew how to describe their appearances.

With her body during into a spiral dark cloud of purple wind that dispersed from her, Darkwing turned into an indigo Pegasus mare with white mane and tail similar to Rarity’s, but with them both being spiked with plumes and her cutie mark being a golden chest with a black lock resembling a skull with red eyes. Her eyes were of the same crimson shade.

With his form becoming purple water that exploded into a group of falling droplets, Darktillian turned into a black Earth stallion with a scuffed up Dijon mane and tail that made him look like he had just woken up this morning with his cutie mark as a red shark. His eyes were the color turquoise.

With his body turning into purple and black rock that cracked and broke apart, Tristone converted into a yellow, overweight unicorn stallion with a black-tipped, spiked-up space blue mane and tail. His cutie mark, a black, thundering storm cloud. His eyes were a shade of garnet.

DarkBlade transformed into a gray unicorn mare with a plum mane and tail that reminded me of the gloom-filled state of Pinkie Pie Shield and I found her in on her birthday last year, her bangs covering her right eye. On her flank, bared a cutie mark depicting a plum colored face with a grim expression and a patch of black that resembled hair in the shape of lightning bolt. Her eyes were of a light blue.

With his body turning into purple ice that broke away and melted into nothing, Darkdra became a red Earth pony stallion with a brown mane and tail, his mane in a city boy-like hairstyle, and a purple shuriken within a shard of black ice as his cutie mark. His eye color was marigold.

Finally, with a wave of purple flame flowing over him, Dargon turned into a cyber grape coat unicorn stallion with a mane of black, gray, and red, the same purple tail of his elemental, this pony being the real Dread Blight with his flank baring his cutie mark: a burning, black flame that flared with traces of dark magic.

“Whoa!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed at the sight of them. “What happened to the Dark Gang?”

“They transformed back into their civilian forms.” I told her before giving the pegasus a raised brow. “What? Did you think they were born monsters?”

“Well… yeah, kinda.” Rainbow admitted, rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment.

“You got a lot to learn about being in the Element Gang, Dash.” Shield spoke up before pointing to the evil elementals before us. “Just like the Element Gang, the Dark Gang are really just a few ponies. You can already guess who’s Dargon. But chubby over there is the real Tristone, a guy named Hubris Cobblestone.”

“The red varmint’s really Icedra, though his real name’s actually Sly Glacerox.” Dog put in, motioning to the red pony.

“Black and yellow over there is Dander Devabass, A.K.A. Darktillian.” Leon added, pointing a hoof at the black stallion with dark yellow hair.

“The white mane mare over there goes by the name Aviditonia Pilfeon, ‘Avidity’ for short as Darkwing’s true form.” I said before moving to the last member. “And that one over there is the true DarkBlade…”

“Wait a minute!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed before she went over to her Dark Gang counterpart. After getting a closer look, she gasped with shock. “Gloomy?”

“‘Gloomy’?” Shield, Leon, and Dog said in unison, looking at each with confusion.

“Pinkie, you know Gloomilla Zaptak?” I asked, surprised that she knew a member of the Dark Gang.

“Yeah, I know her!” She exclaimed. “We’re cousins!” The rest of the group and I gasped in shock at this.

“Gloomy Zap… is your cousin?” Leon said, using the nickname given by the ponies of Gloomilla’s hometown.

“Well, duh!” Pinkie exclaimed before she lifted the strand of hair hanging on Gloomilla’s face up, revealing that they share a few traits with each other. “Can’t you see the resemblance?”

“Well, guess that means I’m not the only one who haves their own cousin as their enemy.” I spoke out before pointing to the unconscious Sly. “See Sly right there? He’s actually my cousin.”

Pinkie gasped at this. “The new Darkdra is your cousin?”

“Yep. Long story.” I told her. “Right now, I suggest you come back over here.”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because Dread just woke up.” Just when I said that, there was a yell and Pinkie yelped as she flew off to dodge a large silver fist slamming where she was standing.

With her rejoining us, we all gave serious looks at Dread as he glared at us with those red and green eyes of his burning with hate, his minions picking themselves up as they awoke.

“Wait, where’s…” Dread said as he looked around before something fell in front of him. What appeared was the starfish-like object that was on the symbiote, now completely black and giving off smoke. Dread put his claw on it and was shocked when it turned to ash. We were all surprised to see that happen, though Dread was put into dismay. “Noooo! My symbiote bomb!” He then glared at us. “That took me five years to make!”

“Huh. So that’s what Dargon really looks like.” Rainbow said in confidence, regaining Dread’s attention. “Doesn’t look so tough now.”

“Had enough, Dread?” I asked, provoking a growl from the Dargon.

Dread took a moment to look around and saw that he and the Dark Gang were defeated, how he had no chance in beating us with seeing how much the six of them were weakened by the attack given from me and my team.

Looking back to us, he then said “You may have won this battle, Noir, but the war has just begun. Even if you have gotten strong the last time we fought, it doesn’t matter to me. I will find a way to crush you! This is far from over, you hear me? The Dark Gang shall return!”

Using his magic, Dread summoned multiple smoke bombs which created a large smoke cloud that cover the area, concealing Dread, the rest of the Dark Gang, and the Shadow Warriors. While I coughed with Twilight and the others, I looked around and managed to see a couple of lights from Dread’s magic appear within the smoke for a brief moment before fading away. After Rarity cleared the smoke around us and it began to dissipate, we all looked to find Dread, his Dark Gang, and their whole army gone from sight.

“They’re gone!” Pinkie exclaimed in shock.

“She’s right.” Rainbow Dash said as she flew in, no doubt coming back from flying around. “I checked and there’s not even a single lackey around.”

“Dread must have used a spell to teleport them, the Dark Gang, and himself out of Ponyville.” I said, taking a guess at what had happened. “No doubt they’re all back in their base.”

“He teleported that many ponies at once with a single spell?” Twilight said in disbelief.

“Well, Dread isn’t a normal pony, even by elemental standards.” I told her, speaking from my experience in witnessing Dread’s magic. “Believe me, this is just the one part of his magic.”

“Guess he had this for whenever they all turned and run, huh?” Applejack asked.

“Ee-yup. The Dark Gang do know how to make an exit.” Dog told her.

“Eh, who cares?” Shield shrugged it off with a proud smile. “We beat them! We won!” As the guys and the girls cheered out in pride, I looked over and lost my smile at the sight before me.

“But at what cost?” I said as I looked up at the sky as some pieces of ash fall down from the sky, a sign that the Anti-Dragon along with my brother was gone and filled me with despair.

“Dusk… I’m sorry.” Shield said with pity in his voice as I looked to see everyone having the same feeling I was having.

Silence fell as we all mourned for the loss of my brother. Feeling a hoof on my shoulder, I looked over to see Twilight as she was trying to comfort me where I then turned and I accepted her, the two of us hugging as I began to cry. I thought we would be like this for a while until… I suddenly caught the sound of screaming, a sound that made me break the hug and search for the source of it. As I looked around, I soon watched as the others start to hear it too as they joined me in the search.

“Hey, look!” Turned to the direction Leon was pointing, we all saw a pony fall from that air at a distance we couldn’t be able to see them clearly.

“Rainbow!” I said to the pegasus.

“On it!” Catching what I was saying, Rainbow Dash instantly flew off and caught the falling pony before he got too close.

As we all gathered around Rainbow as she gently put the pony back on the ground, we were all shocked as the mystery pony stood up. Who the pony was a unicorn stallion who looked just like me, but with a white coat, a white Fire Dragon tail, and an untamed brown mane with bangs over his eyes. Seeing his cutie mark being a familiar gold dragon and silver wolf circling around a single crimson star, the two creatures resembling the halves of a yin-yang, I felt great joy as I was in shock and awe and who was standing before us.

Pulling back his bangs to reveal his hazel eyes, he looked at me in awe and he said “Dusk?”

“Husk!” I said, pulling him into a hug. “You’re okay!”

“Yeah, it’s previous obvious.” Husk said with a little chuckle before we broke the hug. “Though I’m a little confused how I’m standing right here.”

“Yeah, didn’t he get turned to stone?” Leon asked in confusion.

“Yeah, how did he get out of that and escape an explosion?” Shield put in, reminding of the Element Blast.

“The Element Blast!” I then realized what had allowed Husk to stand with us. “It must’ve broke the bond between Husk and the Anti-Dragon, purging the symbiote from your body. The light burned away the symbiote, but left Husk unharmed.”

“Since when does the Element Blast do that?” Leon asked in confusion.

“The Z-Power.” I told him, looking over to Twilight’s Z-Ring. “Whatever those Z-Crystals are, their power combined with the Element Blast not only increased the attack power, but enhanced it to being capable of so much more than combatant purposes, such as healing.”

“Well, thank Celestia for that.” Husk said as he came over and the two of us hugged again, happily embracing each other. “I missed you, bro.”

“Me too, Husk. Me too.” I said as we then broke the hug and looked at each other before we looked and saw my team gather around us to greet Husk, my brother smiling as they all tried to talk to him.

“Excuse me. Pardon me. Cousin of the family, coming through.” Rarity said as she made it through. “Thank you. Husk Noir, we finally meet.”

“Hey, Rare.” Husk greeted her with a bright smile. “It’s great to meet you too.” He then turned to me before motioning to everypony behind our cousin. “Now, bro, mind introducing me to the rest of your friends?”

“Of course.” I said as I began introducing everyone. “Husk, I like you to meet Shield Steedor…”

“Sup.” Shield said.

“Dog Fries…”

“Howdy.”

“Leon Aquilous…”

“Hey.” Leon said, casually.

“Rainbow Dash…”

“Hey.” Rainbow said.

“Applejack…”

“Howdy do.” Applejack said.

“Pinkie Pie…”

“Hi there!” Pinkie said excitedly.

“Our little sister, Fluttershy…”

“H-hello.” Fluttershy said, nervously.

“Our resident dragon, Spike…”

“Hey.” Spike said as he and Husk claw-bumped.

“And this…” I said as Twilight came over to me, smiling. “This is my girlfriend, Twilight Sparkle.”

“So the rumors were true.” Husk said out of surprise. “I almost didn’t believe it, but looks like I was wrong to doubt.”

“Rumors?” I asked, wondering what he meant.

“Yeah, word from the grapevine is that personal students of the Royal Sisters were dating each other.” Husk said, making me sigh.

“So they already started rumors about us that even the Shadow Warriors heard about.” I said, not really feeling great about that. “Why do I get the feeling that might cause some trouble in the future?”

“Dusk, they’re just rumors. Nopony listens to rumors anymore.” Twilight said as she gave me a reassuring smile. “Besides, we’re already planning on telling ponies, so this just helps them be more prepared ahead of time.”

“Yes, I guess you’re right. As always.” I said, feeling a little better before talking to Husk. “You won’t tell anypony Twilight and I are dating until we announce, will you?”

“My lips are sealed. I’m just glad that my bro managed to find somepony.”

“It’s great to finally meet you, Husk.” Twilight said with a smile.

“Great to meet you, Twilight.” Husk said to her, returning the smile. “At least somepony managed to keep Duskany here happy while I was gone.”

“Duskany?” Twilight said as I was surprised by what Husk just said.

“Yeah, that’s actually my full first name.” I told her, scratching the back of my head nervously. “I usually use the hypocorism ‘Dusk’ when I introduce myself.”

“Hypo-what?” Spike asked in confusion.

“Translated from Nerdese, I think my bro is saying that ‘Dusk’ is just the nickname short for ‘Duskany’.” Husk answered him.

“That’s correct.” I said, confirming my brother’s guess. “I use my nickname because it is much easier to say than ‘Duskany Noir’.”

“And not as funny!” Shield said as he laughed. “I mean, seriously! Who names their kid Duskany? Ha-ha!”

“Hey, it’s an Elementar name!” I retorted before I looked back at Husk. “And it’s not as bad as being a guy who’s middle name is ‘Trisha’.”

“Oh, wow.” Husk said as he gave me a forced smile. “Only been back just now and you’ve already figured out a comeback.”

“Well, I did do a little studying for a situation such as that.” I smugly told him before gaining a friendlier composition. “Though I think we shouldn’t let a little argument like this create any ill will on such a good day, don’t you?”

“Oh, yeah.” Husk said, his smile now becoming genuine. “Now me and you can catch up on what I’ve missed the past years.”

“Yeah, this is great and all.” I said before losing the smile I had as I remembered how our situation has changed. “Though I’m afraid Dread wasn’t lying. From what we just witnessed, we are all the Dark Gang’s targets. This isn’t the last we’ll see of them. They will return.”

“And we’ll be ready.” Twilight said as she came up before me. I nuzzled her to show her that I agreed.

“Yeah, especially now that we got these crystals!” Rainbow said as she proudly held up her Z-Ring right before the Z-Crystal broke apart and disappear in fragments of light, the sudden event surprising her. “My crystal!”

We then watched as the same thing happened to the Z-Crystals possessed by Fluttershy, Applejack, and Twilight, the slots on their Z-Rings now made bare.

“Whoa! What happened?” Applejack asked as they were all confused by this.

“Looks like someponies didn’t go through Island Challenges yet.” Husk said with a chuckle.

“Island Challenges?” Twilight asked in confusion before she looked to me. “Dusk, what is he talking about?”

“It’s all part of using Z-Crystals.” I explained as Rainbow came down to us. “You see, Z-Crystals are a very rare type of gem which allows whoever is wielding a Z-Ring, the only thing capable of utilizing Z-Crystals, to unleash a great power unlike any other.”

“So they’re a type of magic?” She asked.

“I guess you could say that.” I told her. “Anyway, the power of the Z-Crystals isn’t just a power you can just receive. It haves to be earned. The way one earns the privilege to use that power is by going through Island Challenges, sorts of tests to see if one is worthy enough to use the power. What my brother here is trying to say is that, until you pass some Island Challenges, you can’t use Z-Crystals.”

“Seriously?” Rainbow said in exasperation. “We get some awesome new powers and they’re gone after one go?”

“Sorry, Rainbow, but that’s just how it works.” I said before asking an important question. “By the way, where did you girls get those Z-Rings anyway?”

“Well, it was the oddest thing.” Twilight told me. “Right when we were battling the Anti-Dragon, this strange creature appeared out of nowhere and handed these to us.”

“What strange creature?” I soon got my answer when I heard this chortling screech and we all looked around to find the source.

“What was that?” Leon asked before Dog spoke up.

“Look! Up there!” Looking towards the fountain, we were all in shock and awe as we saw a humanoid creature floating above the fountain.

Seeing its rooster-like appearance with a black head and torso; white markings on its chest and above its eyes; the large, orange plume; and the two bird mask-like yellow shields on arms, I recognized it as one being I never expected to see, especially in Equestria.

“That’s the creature!” Twilight exclaimed. “The one who gave us the Z-Rings!”

“I don’t believe it.” I said in disbelief. “Tapu Koko.”

“Wait, Tapu Koko?” Husk said in surprise. “As in the Tapu Koko?”

“You know what it is?” Twilight asked us.

“Yeah, I’ve read about it.” I said, still in awe of what I was seeing. “I’m surprised you knew about it, Husk.”

“Well, I learned about it through some vids from Dragonis.” Husk told me. “But do you know why it’s here?”

“Maybe it knew we were trouble and that we needed help.” I said, taking a guess.

“Since when does an Island Guardian know what’s going on past its own region?”

“How should I know? These guys are all kinds of mysterious.”

“Wait, Island Guardian?” Twilight asked us, ending our conversation. “What are you talking about?”

“Twilight, that creature up there is Tapu Koko, one of the great Island Guardians of Haywaii!” I told her. “A Legendary Pokémon!”

“What?!” Twilight said before she looked back at Tau Koko in shock. “That’s a Legendary Pokémon?”

“Wait, Haywaii?” Dog asked in confused. “Ain’t that, like, across the ocean?”

“Yeah, what’s it doing so far away from home?” Shield added.

“Well, I guess Tapu Koko came here to give Twilight and the girls those Z-Rings so they could help us with the Dark Gang.” I answered them to where I then looked to see Twilight looking toward Tapu Koko in awe.

“Tapu Koko the Island Guardian.” Looking to the Tapu, I saw the Legendary was looking directly at Twilight with a knowing look. “Thank you for helping us. We are forever grateful.” I then watched as she then used her magic to take off the Z-Ring and hold it up to her. “I guess you would be wanting these rings back. We understand that you would only let us borrow them.” From her words, we all watched as Applejack and Fluttershy follow her lead and took off their Z-Rings to present them to the Tapu. It was only a brief moment until Twilight looked back to a hesitant Rainbow Dash who still had her ring on. “Rainbow Dash.”

“What?” Rainbow said before Twilight gave her a stern look, the cyan pegasus sighing in defeat before she then goes over and joins the others in returning the Z-Rings. “Okay, fine. Here’s your ring back.”

Though, now with all four rings presented to it, we were all surprised as Tapu Koko turn its head to the side as it raised a hand in refusal. This much confused the girls.

“Tapu Koko, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked before the Legendary turned back to her, giving her a knowing look in response.

“Twilight, I don’t think the Z-Rings are something Tapu Koko was letting you borrow.” I said as I walked over to her. “The power might’ve been what was needed to defeat the Dark Gang, but I think that it wants you girls to keep them.”

“You really think so?” asked my girlfriend.

“Yes, I do.” I answered her. “I’ve read that Tapu Koko would tend to leave gifts to certain people it had taken interest in. Maybe this is one of those times.”

After giving this information some thought, Twilight then looked back to the Legendary.

“Is it true? Do you want us to keep these?” From this question, Twilight got a nod in response, provoking a smile to form on her face before Rainbow Dash spoke up.

“Sweet!” Rainbow then placed the Z-Ring back on, Applejack and her fellow pegasus following her lead. “I’m not one for jewelry, but this one is an exception.”

After she places the Z-Ring back on her foreleg, Twilight then gave Tapu Koko a grateful smile. “Thank you, Tapu Koko. We’ll take good care of them.”

With a pleased chortle from it, we all watched as Tapu Koko began to fly away, the Legendary quickly gone from sight.

“The Dash’s first encounter with a Legendary and she gets a gift from it.” Shield said with a proud smile. “She really is awesome.”

“They all got gifts from Tapu Koko.” Dog put in. “Not something ya see every day.”

“Yeah, but what does it mean?” Leon asked, putting up good question.

“That is something to ponder.” I said before putting my curious thoughts on hold. “But I think that’s a mystery to solve for another day.”

“Yeah. So let’s just focus on the positive.” My brother said as he gave off a proud smile before giving off a little victory dance. “I’m free! I’m finally free!” He then yelled out “You hear that, Equestria? Husk Noir is finally back, baby!”

With that fist of his pumping into the air, I couldn’t help but smile seeing my brother like this. I was brought out of thought when Rainbow spoke up.

“Dusk, you said that all we have to do to get Z-Crystals is by doing some Island Challenge thing, right?” Rainbow asked me.

“Yes, that’s correct.” I told her.

“So where do we find an Island Challenge? ʹCause I really like that power back. It was awesome!”

“I’m afraid it’s not that easy, Rainbow.” I told her. “The Island Challenges can only be taken at one specific location, the home region of Tapu Koko and where all Z-Rings are made: the islands of Haywaii.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s head over to those islands and take the Island Challenges!”

“Hold it, Rainbow Dash. It’s not that simple. Haywaii is far off the coast of Equestria, so we need to make preparations for the trip. Plus, we’ll need Dragonis Maximus’ permission to go there.”

“Why do we need his permission?”

“It’s because of the island kahunas.”

“Island kahunas?”

“Yeah, they’re the ones in charge of the Island Challenges. Dragonis has been to Haywaii before and has told me he was acquainted with the kahunas. If Dragonis’ approves of us going, he’ll inform the kahunas so you girls can take the challenges.”

“Oh. Okay, that’s cool.”

“Until I get word to him about this, just be patient and I assure you’ll get to do an Island Challenge.”

Hearing a large commotion coming from behind, we all looked to see everypony coming back to town, the team and I transforming back to normal. From gathering around us, everypony was surprised at the sight of my twin beside me.

“Okay, everypony, settle down.” I said, everypony let me a chance to speak. “The Dark Gang are gone! Ponyville is now safe!” With that, they all gave out a cheer. “And we have a somepony I wanted you all to meet.” It was then that I turned and motioned to Husk. “Everypony, please welcome my brother Husk Noir!” I then listened as the townsfolk talked amongst themselves in disbelief to discovering I had a brother, but came to greet him with friendly smiles, my brother shyly waving to them in response. “Now that we got that out of the way, we can focus on getting everything back to normal. We got a lot of damage to cover, so we need everypony’s help. Let’s fix up our town!” With everypony cheering out, we all then began working on repairing the damages left by the Dark Gang.

Though it was gonna take a while to rebuild everything, with ours and all of Ponyville’s help, we would get everything fixed in no time. Husk’s return was the start of new chapter in our lives. To commemorate it, after repairing the town, I decided to give Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack their own communicators so we could keep in touch, knowing who to call when we need help. Much like my fellow elementals and I, the girls have not only proven to be heroes in body, but also in spirit. With this, we are gonna learn about friendship in a whole new way as we continue our duty in protecting Equestria. This will also come to serve as a message to all of Equus:

To all those out there, if you come seeking destruction and chaos, know this: we will defend this town along with Equus with all our might.

We will protect this world.

We will protect its people.

We will protect… our home.

No one’s view

At the Dark Gang base, a large shadow appeared inside the transport hall and the Dark Gang and their unconscious army of Shadow Warriors rose up from it. After they had risen completely out of the shadow, it disappeared and Dread instantly collapsed from fatigue while his Shadow Warriors were slowly waking up.

“Boss!” Hubris said as he and the rest of the Dark Gang rushed over to their leader with concern. “Boss, you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Dread angrily told his minions as he then managed to slowly pick himself up to his hooves and claws, a dark aura appearing around him that frightens his fellow elementals. “Just make sure to get me a full count of any injuries to the Shadow Warriors and the exact time for their recovery. I want them all back to training as soon as possible.”

“Yes, boss.” Hubris said as he and the others nodded, too afraid to speak up their leader as he then summoned a black staff and used it to help him walk away.

“Man.” Dander put in after Dread was out of sight. “No matter how many times I see it, Dread’s Aura of Fury still gets me.”

Dread’s view

Walking to my throne, I fought through my exhaustion from my two spells, the second which added more than summoning those smoke bombs. I knew I took a large risk using Darkness Transmission, especially after being weakened by that Element Blast, but I couldn’t lose such a majority of my army. How in Hades could this plan have failed? With those freaking stones out of reach to the Element Gang, I thought it would be easy to destroy them. The intel told us, along with six elementals, there were four ordinary mares in this Element Gang. There was no mention of those four possessing Z-Rings. And those Z-Crystals… they weren’t even the regular kind! The fact that we had been defeated when it was clear we would be victorious had me so freaking peeved! Now the Element Gang had grown stronger than ever and I had lost one of my greatest assets and advantage in this battle! Upon reaching my throne and sitting down, it was clear to me that what I tried to prevent was now upon us.

“It is now upon us.” I admitted to myself. “We, the Dark Gang, now face our darkest hour.”

With that, I then used my magic for one last summon: my Mobile Seer, a special phone-like device made from my dark magic which I use to contact allies I have scattered across the world. Seeing how Z-Power is involved, I knew there was only one person I could call to help me with it. With that in mind, I instantly dialed the number for my own personal expert on the matter.

No one’s view

In an unknown location that appears similar to the Dark Gang’s base, resting on a velvet pillow atop a stone pedestal is Mobile Seer that, after a brief moment, begins to ring. A few seconds later, a gray, feline paw appears and grabs the Seer before pulling it away towards the side of a pony’s head which is concealed by shadow.

“Yes?” the pony said, speaking in a feminine voice. “Oh, hello, Dread. Has been a while since you last called me.” She smiled for a moment before she lost it while Dread talked to her. “What about Z-Rings?” After a moment of silence, the pony gripped her phone a bit more tightly while gritting her teeth. “Oh, you don’t say? That’s… interesting.” After a brief moment, the pony then forced a smile on her face. “Oh, of course. I can tell you all about it. In fact, I think I’ll go to you. We can discuss this over lunch or dinner, whenever I arrive there.” After a moment, she then prepared to end the call. “Uh-huh. Then I’ll see you soon, my lord.”

After ending the call, she put the Seer back on the pillow before standing up from a gold throne with red cushions, replacing her smile with a frown as she growled. In a moment, her eyes started glowing red as a dark purple magic aura appeared at the sides of her head, revealing two curved, goat-like horns. With one yell of anger, her horns blasted purple magic beams which create a hole in the wall. Panting for a moment, she manages to recollect herself and both her horns stop glowing.

“I take it that you just received some bad news?” asked a pony who appears to right side of the mare’s throne, coming out of the shadows.

The pony who appeared was a blue, tall and slender Earth pony mare dressed in a purple, form-fitting outfit and a hood that covers most of her head, but leaves her face exposed. She had purple eyes and white eyebrows. Beside her are two mares who appear younger than her. The one closest was a silver unicorn with a green mane and tail and yellow eyes dressed in orange Gothic armor pieces that only covered her head, chest, back, and legs. The only parts of her that were exposed were her face and her flank which bared the image of a golden skull wearing a golden crown at a crooked angle. The other one was a red Earth pony dressed in a blue, open jacket with gold accents and a hood that concealed her face, some blonde hair hanging from the right.

“You could say that, Dark Mania.” The two horned pony said to her. “Though I am still happy Dread gave me a call.”

“So what did your boyfriend want?” said a male voice as three more figures walked out of the shadows left to the throne, two of them being not ponies but a couple of brown monkeys with one male and the other female.

The male monkey was slightly taller than Dark Mania, had a bulky and muscular build, red eyes, and hair black facial hair. He was dressed in a dark muscle shirt, trousers, and carries tools and weapons on his belt. The female was around the same height as the younger mares, had a build similar to the male’s, long brown hair braided into pigtails, and blue eyes. She was dressed in a dress in a similar style as her fellow monkey and had a large hammer strapped to her back. The pony with them was a pink stallion with a blue tail and mane with turquoise highlights and pink eyes. He was dressed in a gray shirt with green, high-collar vest over it, a pair of goggles with orange lenses on his brow, and a single golden shoulder pad over his left shoulder.

“He just told me something that gave me a chill, something that you might like to hear, Glock.” The pony said to him. “Apparently, our lord finally attacked Ponyville and was defeat by the Element Gang.”

“Yeah, and what’s new?” asked the female monkey.

“There’s more to it than that, Glouda.” The pony told her. “The reason he lost was because the Element Gang had ponies who were in the possession of a couple Z-Rings.”

“You mean a couple of Haywaiians went all the way across the ocean to help them?” said the unicorn as she and the others were surprised by this.

“No, Solid Stone.” The pony clarified. “The ponies with the Z-Rings were actually four of those who wield the Elements of Harmony… and they had Z-Crystals.”

“How in Equus did a couple of mares find Z-Rings or even Z-Crystals?” Glouda asked with shock.

“I would have to guess that the Tapus had something to do with this.” The pony said. “First, they deny me my rights. Now they decide to give power to a couple of fools who likely don’t even know what they now wield? Now I’m just freaking peeved.” With her horns glowing again, a silver and gold staff became surrounded in the same aura before floating away from the wall it was leaning against, the pony bringing it over. “Get ready. We’re going to pay Dread a visit and learn more about these wielders.” Removing the aura from the staff as she grabbed it, the pony turned her glowing red eyes to the very egg-shaped tip that bared the face of the pony and two wings on the side as it began to emanate a black aura with the eyes glowing red. “The more I know, the easier it will be to crush our new enemies.”

Deep in the forest, a small white blob with purple cracks is moving around until a small purple vortex appeared below it, the blob going through before the portal instantly disappeared as mysteriously as it had appeared.

Author's Note

After an attack from the Dark Gang, the Element Gang have managed to protect their town and allow the return of Husk Noir, the twin brother of Dusk Noir. But, with this victory, also comes a new mystery that now looms around the Element Gang. Why did the Legendary Pokemon Tapu Koko give Z-Rings to Twilight and her friends and what will it mean for them? What dangers await them? Find out what will happen next time!

Hey, guys! What did you think of the chapter? Sorry it took me so long, was dealing with a lot of stuff with family. Anyway, how'd you like the special surprises I put in? For how Husk fits into these adventures, you will all find out as the story goes on. With what reasons did Tapu Koko have for giving Twilight and the girls Z-Rings, you're gonna have to wait a little while before you get that answer. Those mystery villains that you just met? You'll learn more about them a bit later in the story and truly find out a lot about them in the next book. And for that little white blob? You'll find out how it fits in with everything later on in this book. Well, that’s all I got for this chapter! Don’t forget to comment and rate the story to tell me what you think!